SONGKHLA/BANGKOK: Police arrested a 21-year-old man from Pattani province in Hat Yai district on Monday for allegedly plotting bombings with four others in Bangkok in October 2016.
Crime Suppression Division police arrested Muhammad Sakariya Damung on a Bangkok-Sungai Kolok train at Hat Yai train station about 10am. He was heading for Pattani from Bangkok, CSD superintendent Pol Col Sompong Suwannawong said.
Mr Muhammad Sakariya was believed involved in bomb plots in Bangkok and nearby provinces on Oct 25-30, 2016. He was the bomb maker. Police also suspected him of involvement in many bombings in the southern border province of Narathiwat.
Security authorities had foiled the conspirators by raiding their rooms in Bang Kapi district of Bangkok and Bang Sao Thong district of Samut Prakan.
Mr Muhammad was charged with collaborating to have in possession illegal explosives and illegal association.
Deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul arrived at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok on Monday to fetch him.
He said the arrest came after police caught Mubariah Kana and three others for their alleged involvement in the scheme earlier. Police later sought arrest warrants for 14 more suspects.
At present, there are 17 suspects in this case, 14 of whom have already been in custody.
The three at large are Usman Jaengor, the leader, Wae-arong Jaeuma and Abdulnase Awae.
With Mr Muhammad in custody, police will investigate whether the group has links to political groups and more arrest warrants could be sought, Pol Gen Srivara said.
