Auto rickshaw driver confirms picking up bombing suspect at crime scene

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BANGKOK, 21 August 2015, – Police have questioned an auto rickshaw taxi driver, who confirmed picking up and dropping off the prime suspect in Monday’s Ratchaprasong bombing.

The Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri made the report, saying the tuk tuk driver took the suspect from an unspecified location to Ratchaprasong Intersection. The taxi driver said the suspect was a foreigner who communicated through images from a mobile phone and hand gestures. He could not verify the language spoken.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said authorities would provide police protection to the tuk tuk driver, should he feel the need.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating two witnesses who appeared in the CCTV camera of the Lumpini Police Station. The first witness is a man, who has already spoken to authorities. The second is a woman, who has yet to come forward for questioning.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut revealed that the man is a student of Chinese descent from Chiang Mai province, claiming to have been taking his Chinese friend to visit the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. The witness, scheduled to meet the police again today, said his friend has already returned to China.

So far, 94 witnesses have been questioned regarding the bombing incident.

Regarding the possibility that the suspect might have fled the country, the police spokesperson speculated that the suspect is very likely still in the Kingdom. Immigration offices and airports across the nation have not reported a match since his description was posted by police.