Pipe bomb near MRT station ‘ready to be triggered’
THE pipe bomb found near Thailand Cultural Center MRT station yesterday was in working condition and only needed to be set off, Matichon newspaper said today (May 31).
Pol. Col. Arkhom Chanthonlart, deputy head of Huay Kwang police station, thinks the culprits hid the bomb there and planned to set it off later because this area is reachable from many directions.
Col. Burin Thongpraphai, Military Judge Advocate General, said looking at this pipe bomb it seems more powerful than those used at three recent explosions with the first being outside the old Government Lottery Office, the second outside the National Theater and the third at Phramongkutklao hospital.
He added that a 51-year-old woman as well as three Phramongkutklao Hospital workers were detained but this woman has been released because seven days have passed. However he still believes she is linked to the bombing but will have to gather more evidence before bringing her in again.
Bomb investigation police said that the bomb found yesterday was devised from is a black metal pipe with a twist on top and is 7.6 centimeters wide and 20.3 centimeters long. Within it was 220 grams of low-grade explosives.
It is an improvised explosive device which can cause damage within 10-20 meters from the point of explosion.
Sources told Matichon that the basket this pipe bomb was in also contained 24 small pieces of steel, 50 nuts and 100 two-inch nails.
Experts say this pipe bomb is similar to what was found on March 27, 2014 in Rat Uthit soi 25-27 and February 1, 2015 at BTS station platform linking with Siam Paragon shopping center.
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Top: Police inspect the area where the bomb was found yesterday. Photo: Matichon
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