Bangkok Bombing: Thai Prime Minister Announces Arrest Of Second Suspect In Erawan Shrine Blast; Warrants Out For 3 More Foreign Suspects

Update as of 7:12 a.m.: A man arrested by Thai police Tuesday, on suspicion of playing a key role in the Aug. 17 Erawan Shrine blast in Bangkok, was also involved in a second smaller explosion a day later, Reuters reported, citing Thai police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was reportedly arrested near the Cambodia border and transferred to Bangkok for further questioning. The report added, citing Prawut, that officials also issued arrest warrants for three more foreign male suspects.

Original story:

A second foreign national, described as the main suspect in the deadly bombing at a Bangkok shrine last month, was taken into custody Tuesday, BBC reported, citing Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Police arrested another foreign national Saturday in connection with the bombing.

The man arrested Tuesday was among the suspects against whom warrants were issued Monday. National police announced Monday that they were looking for a Thai woman and a man of unknown nationality, for their involvement in the Aug. 17 blast at the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, which killed 20 people and injured over 120.

Prayuth told reporters Tuesday, according to BBC, that the latest male suspect was arrested in Sa Kaeo province, east of Bangkok and on the Cambodia border.

"He is a main suspect and a foreigner," Prayuth reportedly said. He however did not clarify if the arrested man was the one suspected of planting the bomb in the shrine, and the BBC report added that he may not be the man in the yellow T-shirt caught on security camera footage.

Prayuth said, according to the Associated Press, that officials knew that the people associated with the bombing were about to escape the country and added that the man arrested Tuesday was an answer to a jigsaw puzzle and that he could help unravel details about the bombing as well as that of a bomb that exploded harmlessly in a river, a day after the blast at the shrine.

One person was arrested Saturday, who officials believed at the time was the main suspect. While he was identified as a foreigner, his nationality was not revealed. Officials found dozens of passports in the arrested suspect’s room, including a Turkish passport. The man also reportedly possessed illegal explosives. Police officials earlier said that at least 10 people were involved in the attack.