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Two suspects identified in Bangkok bombing case

By Tomas Monzon
Police in Thailand released images of Wanna Suansan, left, and an unidentified man, both suspected of being involved in the bombing of a Bangkok shrine that killed 20 people. Police handout
Police in Thailand released images of Wanna Suansan, left, and an unidentified man, both suspected of being involved in the bombing of a Bangkok shrine that killed 20 people. Police handout

BANGKOK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A Thai court issued arrest warrants Monday for two suspects believed to have played a role in the bombing of Bangkok's Erawan Shrine on Aug. 17.

The suspects are a Thai woman named Wanna Suansan, 26, and an unidentified male whose sketch was released by police. Suansan is the only suspect Thai police have identified by name so far.

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She is seen in a photo released by police wearing a hijab while the unidentified man sports dark hair and a mustache.

The news comes after the raid of an apartment complex in the Min Buri district of Bangkok, where police uncovered fertilizer, explosives detonators and digital watches.

On Saturday, police also arrested a suspected participant in the shrine bombing, which killed 20 people and injured many more. The man, whose name wasn't released, has denied any involvement in the attack despite the alleged discovery of bomb-making material at his home in Bangkok. He also does not match the man in a yellow T-shirt and glasses who appeared in surveillance video and is considered by police to be a prime suspect.

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Meanwhile, Thailand's police chief, Somyot Pumpanmuang, said the officers involved in capturing the unnamed man will receive a $83,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Pumpanmuang says this is merited because there has been no public money given to the officers for what they have done, adding that the arrest "is truly the work of the authorities and their investigative abilities."

It is unclear whether the bombing of the shrine -- which is popular with tourists -- had anything to do with the July deportation of more than a hundred ethnic Uighurs to China.

Authorities have also been reluctant to link the bombing to international terrorism, adding that it is more likely a human smuggling ring or a gang rebelling against police crackdowns.

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