Bangkok police claim reward in Erawan Shrine bomber hunt
- Published
Thailand's chief of police Somyot Pumpanmuang made the announcement whilst holding bundles of banknotes
Thailand's police chief has announced that he will give an $83,000 (£53,793) public reward to his own men after they apprehended a suspect in the deadly bombing at Bangkok's Erwan Shrine.
Somyot Pumpanmuang said the officers deserved it as there had been no public tip-off to help them.
The 17 August blast, which the government called the worst such attack in Thailand, killed 20 people.
One man has been arrested, and warrants have been issued for two other people.
It is not clear if the unnamed man detained by the police is the chief suspect in the attack. Police have said they do not believe he is the man seen in CCTV footage at the shrine just before the explosion.
Police say the suspect under arrest is a 28-year-old foreigner and that bomb materials were found at his home.
The arrest is a possible breakthrough for Thai police, says the BBC's Jonathan Head
Praise for police
Police chief Pumpanmuang said that the Thai police should be credited for capturing the suspect.
"The accomplished work that led to the arrest is truly the work of the authorities and their investigative abilities.
"This was the work of the Thai authorities, there were no tip-offs," he added.
Police have issued warrants for a 26-year-old Thai woman, Wanna Suansan, and an unnamed foreign man.
The warrants were issued after police found bomb-making materials in a second apartment.
Police spokesperson Prawut Thavornsiri said they had found "parts to make bombs and electric charges".
"We found fertiliser bags, watches, radio controls," Mr Prawut said. "These are bomb-making materials... nobody would keep urea fertiliser and gunpowder unless they wanted to make a bomb."
