The sketch was released earlier today (August 13) and follows Phuket Governor Chamroen Thipayapongthada and Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong paying a visit to Phuket’s sole bomb victim at his house this morning in Patong.
Somboon Kaikaew, 41, a Patong motorcycle taxi driver, suffered an injury to his right arm on Friday morning, when an explosion occurred at the traffic signal control box near the junction of Bangla Road and the beach road in Phuket’s premier tourist town.
Up until this point, speculation has been rife as few details about investigation progress have been released to the public.
In a statement issued to the press this afternoon, Gov Chamroen gave his assurances that authorities are working tirelessly to track down the culprit or culprits behind the attack in Phuket.
The statement reads: “Phuket belongs to everyone, every nationality, every religion… A world destination, we need to preserve Phuket to be a safety zone for the happiness of everyone, to be a destination of peace where everyone can travel, and return [home] having experienced nature or acquired goods… this or that, but we mustn’t be complacent with what’s happened, and employ measures for the private and public sectors to help serve as the eyes and ears. We will ensure that CCTV surveillance coverage is maintained in precarious areas, and fix where needed. In addition, we will ramp up security forces in populated areas.”
Phuket Provincial Police Commandar Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen also gave his assurances that authorities are working around the clock on heightened security alert.
Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen explained that his officers, together with Thachadchai Police, officers from the Third Naval Area Command and other security personnel in Thalang have inspected all vehicles coming onto the island via the Thachadchai checkpoint on the north of the island.
“We have not found anything suspicious yet, but we’re also cooperating with security personnel working at commerce centres throughout the island [and have ordered them] to be vigilant in inspecting all vehicles coming and going.
“Law enforcement are distributing the sketches at all places throughout Phuket and adjacent provinces,” Maj Gen Teeraphol added.
Authorities did not provide any other details about the sketch or suspect.
The Rakyat Post, a daily in Kuala Lumpur reports that a Malaysian mobile phone is suspected to have been used to detonate the Phuket bomb.
The Phuket News has yet to independently verify this claim.
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