Bangkok's bombing suspects found to have smuggled explosives from Malaysia
Xinhua
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Photo taken on Aug. 2, 2019 shows a platform screen door cracked after an explosion happened near BTS Chong Nonsi station downtown Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua)

BANGKOK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A couple of Bangkok's bombing suspects were found to have smuggled explosives across border from Malaysia to Thailand, an army general said on Tuesday.

The arrested suspects, identified as Lu-ai Sae-ngae, 22, and Wildon Maha, 29, both being natives of Rue Soh district of Narathiwat province in southern Thailand, were caught in a CCTV footage carrying a large bag believed to contain the explosives and passing Su-ngai Kolok border checkpoint without being checked by officials, according to Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Phornsak Phulsawat.

The footage shows the suspects walking across the border unchecked from Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia to Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat.

They were arrested in Chumphorn province en route to the southern border region and taken to Yala province for police interrogation after they had allegedly planted a dud bomb in front of the National Police headquarters in the heart of the capital on Aug. 2.

Varied spots in Bangkok were planted with bombs by a dozen unknown perpetrators besides the arrested couple, including a BTS rail station in Chong Nonsi area, the premises of Government Center in Chaeng Wattana Road area, the premises of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense in Muang Thong Thani area and the sidewalk of a road in Rama IX area where a few road sweepers were injured.

Lt Gen Phornsak said security measures have been considerably stepped up in all southern border provinces, namely Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, as well as in four districts of Songkhla province.