International terrorists ‘unlikely to be responsible for Thai bomb’

International terrorists were not suspected of a bomb attack in Bangkok this week that killed 20 people and China was not the target, Thai authorities said on Thursday, as police said they believed at least 10 plotters were involved. There has been no claim of responsibility for the Monday evening attack on a famous shrine crowded with tourists, which the government has said was designed to wreck the economy. Authorities have not blamed any group for carrying out Thailand’s worst bombing.

Security agencies have cooperated with agencies from allied countries and have come to the preliminary conclusion that the incident is unlikely to be linked to international terrorism.

Colonel Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the country’s ruling junta.

The Erawan shrine is particularly popular with tourists from China and other East Asian countries, and 11 foreigners were among the dead, including six from mainland China and Hong Kong, but Winthai said Chinese tourists were not believed to have been the target. China is an important ally and trade partner for Thailand and the biggest source of foreign tourists. Police said on Wednesday a young man who was caught on grainy security camera footage planting the backpack bomb was believed to be European or Middle Eastern.

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