They want to create unrest and scare people, Gen Prayut said. They are trying to pass the message that they are still out there, he added, describing both the mastermind behind the attack and the hired henchmen as "foolish".
Gen Prayut's remarks came as arrest warrants for nine people suspected of involvement in the attack were issued yesterday (March 9).
When asked if the public can still rely on him and his regime, he said, "I'm confident I can do it. I won't give up and bow to those villains because if I was going to, I would have called it quits a long time ago."
But the possible re-occurrence of such attacks is a threat "as long as those people still exist, adhering to their conflicts, and are tempted to fight on for their political causes", he added.
He insisted security officials maintain their security surveillance programmes, but urged the public to be vigilant and wary of potential threats as well.
Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsiphramnakul confirmed the military court's approval for nine arrest warrants. They are for: Mahahin Khunthong, Yutthana Yenpinyo, Wirasak Towanjorn, Nathapach On-ming and Thachapan Pokkhrong. Ms Nathapach is Mr Mahahin's wife and Ms Thachapan is Mr Sutthana's. The other four suspects were not named.
Mr Yutthana, a 34-year-old Yasothon resident, and Mr Mahahin, also 34, from Pathum Thani, were detained near the scene shortly after the incident.
National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang confirmed the court bombing is linked to a previous blast on a walkway next to Siam BTS station and Siam Paragon on February 1. The police were well aware of both bomb plots ahead of time, he added.
In response to one suspect's admission that more incidents are being plotted nationwide for Sunday (March 15), police and soldiers will combine efforts to step up security, Pol Gen Somyot said.
National Council for Peace and Order spokesman Winthai Suwaree said security officials will focus on intelligence as they prepare for the potential attacks pegged for Sunday.
He conceded certain groups are planning more incidents but said the public should not panic. The two suspects in the latest scare were detained quickly because a surveillance unit had been following them for some time, he added.
Regarding reports of the detained suspects having links to former supreme commander Chaisit Shinawatra and former Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, the police chief said they are working to verify all information and anyone found connected to the incident will face questioning.
On Monday, Gen Chaisit denied any involvement in the attack, saying he had only once met one of the suspect's wives years ago when she requested his help.
"Someone came to me begging for money while another requested food, which I gave them. It was a long time ago that the woman named Nut met me and I've only just realised that she is the wife of one of the suspects. But I don't remember which of them is her husband," he said.
Though he supports police intelligence services, he said it is unfair for anyone to accuse him of involvement in Saturday's attack just because his name and phone number appeared on a contact list in a suspect's notebook.
"Please don't drag me into that mess. I'm a real man and a soldier who has done a lot for the nation," he said. "I believe in Thailand's judicial process and hope there will still be room left for some of the Shinawatras to be in [government]. It shouldn't be that all members of the Shinawatra family have to be eradicated."
Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit also denied involvement, saying that since retiring he has been dedicating his time to his foundation.
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