Thai police arrest key suspect in Bangkok bombing

Royal Thai Army officers walk with a suspect, believed to be involved in the recent Bankgkok blast, after his arrest in Sa Kaeo, near the Thai-Cambodia border in this handout picture released on September 1, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK - Thai police on Tuesday morning arrested an important suspect in a recent deadly bombing attack at Erawan Shrine in downtown Bangkok, police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said.

The suspect was arrested in Sa Kaeo province while he was trying to cross the border to Cambodia, Prawut said at a press conference.

The suspect was taken to Bangkok in the afternoon for questioning, he said, adding the name and nationality of the suspect have yet to be found out.

It is preliminarily believed that the suspect is an important member of the group that perpetrated the Erawan Shrine bombing. At least 20 people were killed and more than 120 others injured, the spokesman said,

The arrested suspect looks similar to the yellow-shirted man who, according to security camera footage, left a backpack at the shrine shortly before the explosion, but further investigation is needed to determine his identity, Prawut said.

Police will try to learn more through examination of the suspect's DNA, fingerprints, and other physical features, he said.

In addition, Prawut said that the authorities had issued arrest warrants for three more men, including two Turkish nationals and one of unknown nationality. Previously, the court issued arrest warrants for four suspects, including the yellow-shirted man.

The investigators are currently communicating with the newly- arrested suspect in English, who does not speak Thai, he said, adding interpretation services would be provided once the investigators found out his native language.

Before that, another foreign male was arrested last Saturday in Bangkok's eastern outskirts. He is believed to be connected with the Aug. 17 blast at Erawan Shrine, as well as a subsequent bombing at the Sathorn pier, which caused no deaths or injuries.