Thai officials are on high alert as three Iranians accidentally set of explosives in the capital Bangkok that were supposed to target Israeli diplomats.
- Two men have been detained by Thai authorities in connection the recent Bangkok bomb plot.
Thailand’s chief of police, Gen. Prewpan Dhamapong said that the alleged target of the terror plot was Israel.
In recent months, Iran has been accused by Israel as supporting a botched terror plot in Thailand, as well as a number of alleged attacks in the Soviet republic of Georgia and India – both of which Iran denies.
- An image showing details of the events of happened – Source: Bangkok Post
Thai authorities say that they now “know for certain” that Israel was the target of the plot given the similarities between the recent Thai bombings as well as those in Delhi and Tiblisi.
“This issue was about individuals and the targets were specific,” said Gen. Prewpan Dhamapong . This was something personal.”
Israel alleges that Iran has waged a significant covert operation using terror, also threatening military retaliation on Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Iran blames Israel for the recent death of a number of the country’s nuclear scientists, a claim denied by the government.
- One of the suspects lay injured on the ground after the explosives accidentally detonated. SOURCE: AFP/Getty Images.
Thursday’s botched terror plot has prompted Thai authorities to increase security in the capital and Israel’s Foreign Ministry to step up security at its embassies and consulates worldwide.
The plot was discovered when the alleged bombers accidentally blew up a rented house by mistake. One of the men was shown to the media, paraded in front of cameras with his hands covered by a dark sheet.
- Police investigate the bomb site.
Police say that the suspect, Mohammed Kharzei, had partially confessed to the crime and acknowledged that he was familiar with a second suspect, Saeid Moradi, whose leg was blown off during the explosion.
A third suspect, Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, ws arrested in Malaysia and is currently under investigation for the bomb blasts in Bangkok. Authorities in Malaysia will not speculate on whether there is sufficient evidence to extradite Mr Sedaghatzadeh back to Thailand.
Thai courts have approved arrest warrants for the suspects, as well as the woman who rented the house.
All four suspects now face charges in Thailand for crimes relating to possession of explosives, attempted murder of a policeman and causing explosions that damaged property.
