This Embassy had requested clarification by sending a verbal note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on whether the suspect arrested on 29 August is a Turkish citizen and about the Turkish passports televised in the news. It was also stated that the Embassy was waiting for an official reply from the Thai authorities.

Meanwhile yesterday the Embassy received a verbal note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, replying that the investigation is still ongoing and that the nationality of the suspects is not yet verified. We still await reply for the fake Turkish passports which appeared in the media.

There are also certain press reports with regard to arrest warrants having been issued for certain Turkish nationals. Up to now this Embassy has not received any official notification from the Thai authorities concerning the arrest warrants.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey yesterday answered a question on the the news reports linking Turkish citizens to the Erawan bomb attack. The unofficial translation of the Spokesperson’s reply is as follows:

We know that a terror act took place on 17 August in Bangkok. We had already learned from the Thai authorities and from the Thai press that two suspects with regard to the attack were interrogated on 29 and 31 August.It was in the press that the suspect arrested on 29 August was carrying a fake Turkish passport. From the pictures you can also see that this passport is a fake. Unfortunately as soon as this suspect was arrested, false information was given in certain press reports that this person is a Turkish citizen. Our Embassy in Bangkok stated that he is not a Turkish citizen. Also the Thai Embassy in Ankara made it clear by stateting to the press yesterday that there is no clear information on the issue. On the otherhand it was reported in the press that the suspect arrested on 31 August at the Thai-Combodia border had a Chinese passport. Naturally the Thai authorities should provide clear and correct information about this news report.

I can say that our Embassy in Bangkok is in contact with the Thai authorities. Our Ministry is also in touch with the Thai Embassy in Ankara. Our Ministry has requested information through Interpol. We haven’t received a reply yet. That’s all I have to say.

As the Embassy mentioned in it previous announcement on 27 August, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey sent a message of condolence to the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, conveying Turkey’s strong condemnation to this act of terror and its resolute stand in the fight against terrorism.