Sketch of Phuket bomb suspect released, security and surveillance tightened

Phuket’s Region 8 Police have released a sketch of a male suspect wanted for detonating a bomb in Patong on Friday morning, which left one motorbike taxi driver injured.

The sketch was released Saturday after Phuket Governor Chamroen Thipayapongthada and Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong paid a visit to the victim at his house in Patong.

Somboon Kaikaew, 41, suffered an injury to his right arm on Friday, when an explosion occurred at the traffic signal control box near the junction of Bangla Road and the beach road in the Phuket tourist area.

Gov. Chamroen issued a statement of Saturday that said, “We need to preserve Phuket to be a safety zone for the happiness of everyone, to be a destination of peace where everyone can travel, and return [home] having experienced nature or acquired goods… this or that, but we must not be complacent with what’s happened and employ measures for the private and public sectors to help serve as the eyes and ears.”

“We will ensure that CCTV surveillance coverage is maintained in precarious areas and fix where needed. In addition, we will ramp up security forces in populated areas.”

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj. Gen. Teeraphol Thipjaroen also gave his assurances that authorities are working around the clock on heightened security alert.

Maj. Gen. Teeraphol explained that his officers, together with Thachadchai Police officers from the Third Naval Area Command and other security personnel in Thalang district, have inspected all vehicles coming onto the island via the Thachadchai checkpoint on the north of the island.

“We have not found anything suspicious yet, but we’re also cooperating with security personnel working at commerce centers throughout the island [and have ordered them] to be vigilant in inspecting all vehicles coming and going.”

“Law enforcement are distributing the sketches at all places throughout Phuket and adjacent provinces,” Maj. Gen. Teeraphol added.

Authorities did not provide any other details about the sketch or suspect, The Phuket News reported.