Warrant issued for 5th Iranian in Thai bomb plot

Police in Bangkok say the 57 year old is likely escaped to Iran, will seek his arrest through diplomatic channels.

Thai police escort Iranian terror suspect 390 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa)
Thai police escort Iranian terror suspect 390 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa)
Thailand is seeking a fifth Iranian as a suspect in the bomb plot allegedly targeting Israeli diplomats and issued an arrest warrant for the man, police in Bangkok said Monday.
The suspect, 57-year-old Norouzi Shaya Ali Alkbar, stands accused of possessing and making explosives, AFP quoted Thai Deputy Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat as saying. He was reportedly captured on security cameras leaving a house rented by other bomb suspects prior to an explosion that exposed the plot.
Police believe he fled the country to Iran before they were able to apprehend him and "will seek him through diplomatic channels," the deputy chief said.
According to the report, police said they were looking into a man that be a sixth suspect.
On Friday, Thai police announced they were looking for a fifth suspect, although they had not yet gathered enough evidence to charge him or determine his nationality.
"There are more than four people involved in the blasts and we're currently gathering evidence to get an arrest warrant approved," Deputy Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat told a news conference, declining to name the suspect.
One Iranian man, Saeid Moradi, who lost his legs when a bomb he was carrying exploded shortly after, remains seriously ill in hospital. A second, Mohammad Hazaei, is in custody after being arrested at Bangkok's main airport and a third, Masoud Sedaghat Zadeh, is being held in Malaysia after fleeing Thailand.
Reuters contributed to this report.