Thailand blasts targeted Israeli diplomats

The blasts in Bangkok were aimed at Israeli diplomats, a Thai police official said in the first such disclosure since the attacks, which Israel blamed on Iran. CNN quoted police Gen. Priewpan Damapong as telling its affiliate Channel 3 late Wednesday, "I can tell you that the target of the operation of this group is specifically aimed at Israeli diplomats." The three explosions in a busy section of the Thai capital, which led to the arrest of three people with Iranian documents, occurred Monday, wounding five people, including one suspect whose legs were blown off. Iran has denied any involvement and blamed Israel for the explosions. The Bangkok attacks came a day after similar bombings targeting Israeli diplomats in New Delhi, India, and Tbilisi, Georgia, which also were blamed by Israel on Iran and the Hezbollah, giving the festering conflict between the two countries an international dimension. In the Tbilisi incident, the magnetic explosive device stuck to an Israeli Embassy vehicle was defused before it could go off, but in a similar New Delhi incident, the device blew up the embassy car, severely wounding the wife of an Israeli diplomat and three others. In the Bangkok attacks, Thailand's National Security Council head Wichean Potephosree had earlier said preliminary investigation indicated the blasts had targeted individuals but said more investigation was needed, the Thai News Agency reported. Wichean also was quoted as saying the magnets used in assembling the bombs resembled those used in the India and Georgia attacks. Two suspects, including the injured one, have been arrested and charged, CNN said, quoting Thai authorities. The third suspect was arrested in Malaysia and Thai police planned to seek his extradition, police spokesman Col. Piya Uthayo said. Thai authorities also were looking for a woman who may have left the country. Thai authorities identified the injured suspect as Saeid Moradi, 28. The second suspect arrested at the Bangkok airport was identified as Mohammad Hazaei. Thai authorities said the third suspect arrested in Malaysia was preparing to board a flight to Iran. The woman suspect was believed to have rented the house where the other suspects had stayed prior to the explosions. In Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Iran "a threat to the stability of the world" and that it was targeting innocent diplomats.