Phuket Police recover fake bomb used in botched bank heist

PHUKET: Phuket City Police have recovered what they believe to be the fake bomb and clothing used by a man in a botched attempt to rob a Phuket Town bank on Monday.

Phuket’s top police rushed to a remote rubber plantation in Rassada at about 11am today after they were informed that what appeared to be a bomb was discovered under clothing matching the description of that used by the would-be bank robber.

At the scene, in Rassada Village 1, police led by Phuket Commander Pekad Tantipong examined four metal pipes about four inches in length wrapped together with electrical tape.

Complete with exposed electrical wiring, the device was intended to resemble a bomb of the kind often used to detonate C4 explosives.

Subsequent inspection by bomb experts revealed that it was fake, as the cylinders were actually filled with harmless plaster of Paris.

The discovery was made by twenty-four-year-old Chaikamon Singduang, a rubber tapper from Nongbualampu province.

He told police he began work at about 7am when he noticed an attractive pair of camouflage pants on the ground next to a tree.

Lifting the garment, he saw what appeared to be a bomb and rushed off in panic to warn his younger brother before reporting the discovery to authorities.

Also discovered was a blue-and-white nylon jacket also thought to have been worn by the suspect, who remains at-large.

Police say they are continuing their efforts to track down the suspect.

— Warisa Temran