Thailand police identifies bomb blasts’ suspect

The police identified a Thai man on Friday as a suspect in its investigation into attacks that killed four people and wounded dozens in a wave of bombings in Thailand a week ago.

Deputy national police spokesman Kissana Phatanacharoen identified the suspect as Ahama Lengha from Narathiwat province near Thailand's border with Malaysia.

A Thai military court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for a then unidentified suspect for attempting to bomb a beach in the tourist island of Phuket.

Kissana said Ahama has not yet been taken into custody and it was not known if he was still in the country. “We have only issued one arrest warrant in relation to the bomb attacks, and that is for Ahama. It's because it is clear that he is linked to what happened,” Kissana told reporters.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings, which came days after Thais voted to accept a military-backed constitution.

Police and the government ruled out any link to foreign militants within hours of the attacks and insisted the perpetrators were home-grown. National police chief Jakthip Chaijinda said the attacks could be linked to the referendum but has not given further details.

Suspicion has fallen on domestic political groups including supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was forced from office in 2006.

While Thaksin's supporters have not been blamed outright, police said last week the attacks were carried out simultaneously by one group on the orders of one person, but gave no further details.

Lawyers for Mr Thaksin have been instructed to file complaints against those accusing him of orchestrating the blasts.

Thai defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the attacks were “definitely not an extension” of an insurgency in the southern provinces where Malay-Muslim insurgents are fighting a separatist war. However, some experts said the insurgent groups are known for carrying out coordinated attacks.