A Chinese tourist and his Thai guide, who were identified as possible accomplices in the deadly bombing in Bangkok, have been cleared of all involvement in the deadly incident after the Thai guide surrendered himself to the police.
The deadly blast claimed 20 lives and injured dozens on Monday, as a bag filled with explosives was detonated at the Erawan shrine. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Suspicions were raised after CCTV footage revealed the two men standing in front of the main suspect, who was wearing a yellow shirt, as he discreetly left a backpack filled with explosives under a bench at the scene, according to BBC News.
The Thai guide said that he had taken the Chinese tourist to the Erawan shrine on behalf of a mutual friend. The tourist had returned to the mainland a day after the blast.
Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri, spokesman for the national police, stated that as of this moment, the two men were "definitely" no longer suspects, reports The Guardian.
While fears of the blast being a terrorist attack were raised in the aftermath, Col. Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the ruling military junta, said that it was "highly unlikely" that international terrorists were involved in the bombing.
However, Suvaree does admit that international terror groups have not been fully ruled out in the investigation.
"We still have to investigate in more detail," he said.
