10 sought after shrine bombing

Investigations continue at the Erawan Shrine. Photo / AP

'No link likely' between Bangkok attack and overseas terrorism

Several foreigners are believed to be among a network of at least 10 people involved in the Bangkok shrine bombing, according to Thailand's police chief.

Somyot Poompanmuang said the worst terrorist attack in Bangkok's history had been planned for at least a month. But the country's junta said no link was likely between the attack and international terrorism.

Thai police said they would circulate a description to Interpol of the chief suspect, an unidentified "foreign man" who is believed to be "Caucasian, Arab or mixed race".

Officers are unsure if the suspect in the bombing that killed at least 20 people at the Erawan shrine has already fled the country.

In a televised address to the nation, the junta spokesman said that while questioning of witnesses and survivors led to the arrest warrant for the "foreign man", there was not believed to be a link to an international terrorist group. The assertion seemed to throw no further light on the motives for the attack or who committed it.

Amid fraying nerves, officials read assurances about security in English and Chinese and said Chinese tourists were not the direct target of the perpetrators as the Government tries to avoid an economically disastrous collapse in foreign visitor numbers.

"There was preparation using many people," said Somyot. Police believed more than half were foreigners, he said.

"This includes those who looked out on the streets, prepared the bomb and those at the site and those who knew the escape route. There must have been at least 10 people involved."

The chief suspect spoke on his mobile phone in a language that was neither Thai nor English as he left the scene, according to a motorcycle taxi driver who believes he picked up the man. The driver's testimony and description of his passenger has played a key role in the investigation. Police had earlier focused on two other "persons of interest" seen in security video footage close to the suspect as he apparently planted the bomb.

In the released footage, one man stood up from the bench to leave a space for the suspect to sit down. He then stood with another man in front of the suspect, possibly shielding him as he took off his bag and left it under the bench a few minutes before the blast. The two men left together as the suspect separately walked away.

Kasem Puksuwan believes he then picked up the suspect at a motorcycle taxi stand a short walk from the shrine just after the explosion.

"He had a conversation on the phone," Kasem told Thai Channel 3. "I don't know what the language is. I don't know, but it is surely not Thai nor English language."

The driver said that the man did not speak to him but handed him a piece of paper with the words "Lumpini Park" written in English.