Thai police hold press conference after arresting bombing suspect

Thai police say they have arrested a suspect in a bombing in Bangkok early last week that killed 20 people and injured about 100.

A suspect whose features matched those of the man identified on security cameras, wearing a yellow shirt and leaving a backpack at the scene of the bombing in Bangkok on August 17, was arrested today, Reuters said.

Thai police searched an apartment used by a man in northern Bangkok and found materials suspected of being used to make bombs, national police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said.

The man recently arrested by Thai police is named Adem Karadag on his passport. Photo: EPA

The man arrested "looks like the person we're looking for," he said.

According to the BBC, Mr. Thawornsiri confirmed that the arrested man was a foreigner but refused to confirm whether he was Turkish or not.

The suspect is believed to have a Turkish passport, according to the Bangkok Post. He was found at an apartment on Soi Chueam Samphan 11 in Nong Chok district at around 2 p.m. today. Police also found bomb-making equipment, including ball bearings similar to those used in the Erawan Shrine bombing. Major General Chakthip Chaijinda said police found dozens of passports in the arrested man's apartment and they needed to check to verify his nationality.

Thai television released a photo of a handcuffed man, who appeared to be a foreigner, in his 20s, with short hair and beard.

Thai police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said the country's secret police had been mobilised to track down the suspect and others involved in the attack, who may be Thai.

According to Thai Rath, about 100 police and soldiers participated in the operation and surrounded the apartment before entering. The suspect rented room number 412 on July 21, Thai PBS said.

More than 100 police officers were mobilized to arrest the suspect. Photo: Bangkok Post

VOA reporter Steve Herman tweeted that police told him the suspect is 28 years old and may be from Türkiye. The arrested man's passport is being shared on social media and some say it is fake.

The bombing at the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok killed 20 people, mostly tourists, and injured many others. Thai police on August 21 tripled the reward for information leading to the arrest of the main suspect to $85,000, from the initial offer of more than $28,000.

According to VNE