Regional News
Main Suspect in Erawan Shrine Bombing still Free, Despite Bangkok Police Claiming 3 Million Baht Reward
Police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawuth Thavornsiri shows a photo of one of three men that Thai authorities have issued new arrest warrants in connection with the bombing case (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
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BANGKOK – Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told reporters today DNA tests revealed a foreign man arrested near the Cambodia border is not the yellow-shirted Erawan shrine bomber, but was “definitely involved in the bombing”.
Prawut Thavornsiri told reporters today that DNA samples from Turkish national Yusufu Mieraili, 25, did not match those found in the suspected bomber’s taxi, on a banknote or on shreds of the bomb-containing backpack the suspect carried, the Bangkok Post reported.
“There’s no evidence to confirm he is the yellow-shirted man. However, he is definitely involved with the bombing,” the spokesman said.
According to Prawut, Mieraili’s fingerprints matched those collected from a container of explosive material found at an apartment in Nong Chok district and from a nail clipper at a rented apartment in Bangkok’s Min Buri district.
The revelation follows an earlier negative result from DNA testing of Adem Karadag, 28, who was arrested at his northern Bangkok apartment on August 29. Karadag was released from military custody and was handed over to police.
The ruling-out of the two foreigners in custody means that the man seen wearing a yellow shirt while leaving a rucksack at the Erawan shrine on August 17 minutes before the explosion that killed 20 people and injured over 150 others, remains at large despite two arrests and the naming of seven other suspects in recent days.
Earlier last week Thailand’s police chief has announced that he will give an $83,000 (£53,793) public reward to his own men after they apprehended a suspect in the deadly bombing at Bangkok’s Erwan Shrine.
Police chief Pumpanmuang said that the Thai police should be credited for capturing the suspect.
“The accomplished work that led to the arrest is truly the work of the authorities and their investigative abilities.
“This was the work of the Thai authorities, there were no tip-offs,” he added.
DNA testing of both suspects did not match those found in the suspected bomber’s taxi, on a banknote or on shreds of the bomb-containing backpack the suspect carried.
The ruling-out of the two foreigners in custody means that the man seen wearing a yellow shirt while leaving a rucksack at the Erawan shrine on August 17 minutes before the explosion that killed 20 people and injured over 150 others, remains at large despite two arrests and the naming of seven other suspects in recent days.
