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Probe Into Thai Plane Explosion Narrows to Three Suspects
The investigation into Saturday's explosion of a Thai Airway International's jetliner has narrowed down to two or three suspects, according to local TV reports Wednesday morning.
The reports said the probe is now focusing on three airport workers assigned to load cargo on to the plane, including one former Air Force officer. Two of them were amongst those who held keys to the cargo hold where the bomb exploded.
Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon said Tuesday that he believed that the incident was an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Boeing 737-400 TG-114 flight mystically burst into flames and was totally destroyed Saturday afternoon at Bangkok's Don Muang domestic airport, just moments before its 149 passengers were to board, including Premier Thaksin and his son.
The blast killed one steward and injured seven other crew members.
Thaksin said Tuesday that he believed the explosion was "an inside job," carried out by people with access to the plane, but he refused to speculate further.
Meanwhile, the police remained inclusive about the motive behind the incident, saying the act might be either an attempt on someone's life or revenge as the result of conflict between rival groups in the Airport Authority or Thai Airway International.
However, police investigators admitted that the bomber must have a good knowledge about the bomb and it was unlikely that he detonated the bomb at the wrong time.
The Airport Authority and Thai Airway International, both state enterprises, were harshly blamed by the premier for being too slow in their investigations into the case.
Chiefs of the two enterprises have reportedly been given two weeks' deadline to find out the cause, or they will be removed from office.
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