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Published on August 31, 2007

"A thorough search found what looked like an explosive device under a Mercedes Benz sedan in a parking zone," DSI deputy director general Tharit Pengdit said.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul rushed to the DSI after he heard about the bomb threat.

A bomb-disposal team was also summoned. An examination later revealed the device was a "fake" bomb.

DSI officials returned to work at 11.30am.

Officials at the Central Institute of Forensic Science and the Secretariat of the Senate were also evacuated, because their offices, like the DSI, are in the Suk Praphruet Building on Prachachuen Road. Each department occupies separate floors.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said his department would work together with the police in a bid to bring the culprits to justice.

"We don't know what they want. But it's clear they wanted the bomb threat to become news," Sunai said, pointing at how the case quickly reached the media.

The DSI has recently undergone changes, which has affected some officials' interests. While internal conflicts were probably behind the bomb threat, Sunai also felt the DSI's role in several big cases could not be ruled out.

"Many cases at the DSI relate to many key figures," he said, but expressed confidence that DSI officials would not be shaken or lose morale. "We will immediately get a closed-circuit television system installed," he added.

The Nation