Bombings were 'revenge' for human-smuggling crackdown

The two bombing attacks in Bangkok in August were in retaliation for the Thai government's suppression of human-trafficking gangs, authorities said on Monday.

"The perpetrators are members of a human-smuggling network," said Somyot Poompunmuang, the Thai national police chief, who called the two blasts in Bangkok "retribution" for the Thai government's crackdown on human trafficking.

While ruling out international militants, Somyot said there may be a link between the blast and Thailand's long-running political divisions through an individual hired to help the suspects in the attack.