Bangkok suspect handed device to shrine bomber: police

[BANGKOK] A key suspect in last month's deadly Bangkok blast handed the backpack bomb over to a man in a yellow T-shirt later seen placing it at a shrine in the heart of the city, Thai police said Wednesday.

"This is the area where he met the man in a yellow shirt to exchange the backpack," national police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told reporters as the suspect, Yusufu Mieraili, was led on a re-enactment of his movements outside a Bangkok railway station.

Mieraili is one of two foreign nationals who have been charged with involvement in the blast, which tore through a religious shrine killing 20 people, mostly ethnic Chinese tourists from across Asia.

Police say Mieraili has confessed to playing a central role in the operation, although his motive remains unclear.

The 25-year-old, who was arrested last week in possession of a Chinese passport, was taken Wednesday morning on a re-enactment of his alleged movements on the day of the August 17 blast.

Outside Hua Lamphing station, police said he handed a "heavy backpack" to a man later seen on security footage apparently placing the same bag at the shrine moments before the blast.

After making the exchange, Prawut said Mieraili was then ordered to travel to the shrine to take photos of the aftermath of the bomb.

But when he got there his view was blocked by a pillar so he left, Prawut added.

During the re-enactment, which was covered by a large media scrum, Mieraili wore a bulletproof vest.

AFP