Kotee’s follower ‘ready to use bombs to trigger trouble’
NATIONAL Police Chief Pol.Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda said the arrest of a follower of hardcore red-shirt leader Wuthipong “Kotee” Kochathamakun after some bombs were found in his rented room shows that he was preparing to launch a political incident, Thai News Agency reported today (Feb. 13).
Kritchakorn Pholsilp, 53, was arrested last night after an M26 grenade, 4 ping-pong bombs, 2 pipe bombs, 3 firecrackers filled with nails and wrapped with tape, 23 bird bombs and red-shirt T-shirts with “the people of Lumlooka” emblazoned on it, a yellow scarf and clappers with national flag ribbon tied to it were found in his rented room at Muang Thong Thani complex, in adjacent Nonthaburi province.
Pol.Gen. Chakthip said Krischakorn was a radical guard in adjacent Pathum Thani province and was staying together with Theerachai Uttravichien or Raphin, who is a member of Kotee’s group, and that he is certain this was a preparation to launch political trouble.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Srivara Rangseepromnakul said the suspect admitted to have rented this room since 2013 and that he is part of Kotee’s network, but denies thinking of stirring up trouble, saying the bombs in the room were what he had found and collected.
Pol. Gen. Srivara said police do not quite believe that the suspect just found these bombs and collected them, because the pipe bombs are similar to what was used at Siam Paragon in 2014.
Police are also determining whether others are involved as they found 3 toothbrushes in the bathroom and these are being checked for DNA evidence.
Krischakorn is a former soldier and rented this room for over 5 years, but because he has not been paying his rent and water and electricity bills, the owner decided to get a new tenant and sent a maid in to clean the unit, and she found the bombs.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Kritchakorn after his arrest last night. Photo: Thai News Agency
In-text and below: A grenade, pipe bombs and red T-shirts found in the suspect’s rented room. Photo: Thai News Agency
Comments
