Iranian suspects plotted against Israeli diplomats, say police
The Iranians arrested after accidentally setting off explosives at their rented home in Bangkok were plotting to attack Israeli diplomats, Thailand's police chief said.
The comments by General Prewpan Dhamapong back claims by Israel that the group was part of an Iranian-backed network of terror.
"I can tell you that the target was specific and aimed at Israeli diplomatic staff," Gen Prewpan told a Thai television station.
He also confirmed that the type of explosive - a home-made "sticky" bomb - found at the blast site on Tuesday, matched the devices planted on Israeli diplomatic cars in India and Georgia a day earlier.
"The type of improvised explosives they used were the same. The type that was attached to vehicles," he said, confirming that an investigation into a magnetic strip found in Bangkok was the same type used in New Delhi.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, while Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast called the allegations baseless and said Israel was trying to damage his country's relations with Thailand and also fuel conspiracy theories.
Thailand's government says it is still trying to piece together what happened when a group of three Iranian men accidentally detonated explosives at a home they had rented in Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road area a day earlier.
