Thai police claim to have foiled a plot to assassinate the prime minister

Thai police said on March 19 they uncovered a plot to assassinate the country's prime minister when they searched the residence of an opposition activist and seized several weapons.

Thai Police Chief Jakthip Chaijinda. Photo: Reuters

This is the latest seizure of a weapons cache belonging to a member of the red shirt movement, a political group loyal to exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to Reuters.

Thai police say they found dozens of rifles and grenades along with thousands of bullets at a house belonging to red shirt leader Wuthipong Kochathamakun, who has been on the run since the military coup.

Police also arrested nine men in connection with the incident and said they had clear evidence that the suspects and their extended network were plotting to cause unrest.

"We found a rifle with a scope. We are sure this is not a bird shot, it was used to assassinate the country's leader," Thai police chief Jakthip Chaijinda told reporters. He said the target was Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Jakthip did not provide any evidence of an assassination plot, but he said Wuthipong and his network regularly protested against the military government and that the group had previously suggested on social media that the prime minister could be murdered.

According to VNE