Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan confirmed to the press suspects had been identified, saying, "It is much clearer who the bombers are, but I can't reveal right now." Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has been quoted as saying the suspect is believed to be from an "anti-government group based in Thailand's north-east"—the region at the center of the movement that opposes the military junta.
The shrine is close to the area that was occupied by anti-government protesters for several weeks in 2010. That occupation was violently broken up by the army, and several people were killed in the civil unrest that followed. Four years later, the same area was again the site of the anti-government demonstrations that resulted in the removal of the Yingluck Shinawatra–led government and a military coup. The country's current military government has banned protests and suspended democracy for the past year.
Concerns have surfaced over the effect the bombings will have on the tourism industry, with the government calling the incident a bid to destroy the economy. Last year, hospitality was one of the country's only sectors that showed growth. Much of that tourism was from China, but following the deaths of four Chinese and two Hong Kong nationals, Hong Kong travel advisories are recommending citizens cancel any nonessential trips to Bangkok.
In the wake of the bombing, the Thai baht has fallen to a six-year low.
