Grenade attack not unexpected, security forces to remain patient: Thai Deputy PM

The recent M79 grenade attack at the First Infantry Battalion in capital Bangkok was not unexpected since some people are seen attempting to provoke the army to use force to respond to the attack, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said Tuesday.

The grenade attacks took place amid the continued mass rally by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) group in Bangkok.

Hence, all of involved security forces have been repeatedly instructed to remain patient to work for the country, Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.

Meanwhile, Suthep thanked the people for cooperating with the government amid the mass rally, while the political situation is believed to ease.

Following the grenade attack at the First Infantry Regiment, separately another M79 grenade was fired into a house of a Thai businessman in the center of Bangkok on Monday night.

But, no one got injured from the attack.

Police Major General Saroj Promcharoen, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 2, said the attack could not link with a nearby residence of Supreme Administrative Court President Akarathorn Chularat.

The attacked house is located on Lardprad Road 23, while the residence of Supreme Administrative Court President is on Lardprad Road 25, he explained

In a related development, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt General Santhan Chayanon called on a meeting with investigative teams regarding the grenade attack at the First Infantry Battalion of the First Infantry Regiment in capital Bangkok on Monday noon.

The investigative officers from Metropolitan Police Division 2 and 5 participated in the meeting, which was held in a bid to plan for hunting for a wrongdoer.

After the two-hour discussion, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner disclosed it is expected a concrete outcome from the police investigation will come out within 1-2 days.

The hunting for the wrongdoer has been ordered to continue around the clock, he said.

Meanwhile, in a bid to prevent the additional attack from occurring, more check points have been set up at both inner and outer areas of capital Bangkok, said the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Source:Xinhua