Broken CCTV cameras hinder Thai bomber search

Thailand’s police chief said the investigation into last week’s bomb blast has been hampered by broken security cameras in central Bangkok along the main suspect’s getaway route.

Police have had to use their imagination to fill holes where street side security cameras were broken and unable to record his movements, said national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung.

One week after Monday’s bombing at the capital’s revered Erawan Shrine, which left 20 people dead and scores injured, police appeared no closer to tracking down suspects or determining a motive for the attack.

The attack has raised concerns about safety in the capital, which attracts millions of tourists, and has left the city on edge.

Police have responded to calls about unattended bags, which turned out to be false alarms, and have tried to reassure the public and international community that Bangkok is safe.

Yesterday, police said that a worker digging at a construction site found a grenade buried in the ground and a police explosives squad was sent to defuse it.

Police Lt. Sakon Rungkiatpaisarn said the grenade appeared to have been buried for a while and authorities “do not think it has anything to do with (last Monday’s) bombing.”

Police have released an artist sketch of the prime suspect from last week’s blast, who is seen in security camera footage from the open-air shrine leaving a backpack at a bench and walking away. The explosion takes place 15 minutes later.

The images are blurry and after the suspect leaves the scene, the security cameras were broken at key spots along his suspected path.

“Sometimes there are 20 cameras on the street but only five work,” Somyot said, openly frustrated as he spoke to reporters.

“We have to waste time putting the dots together. The footage jumps around from one camera to another, and for the missing parts police have to use their imagination,” he said.