National Police Commissioner General Chaktip Chaijinda yesterday said the two suspects had taken part in the 2011 attack.
“They have been wanted ever since. But authorities happened to net them during an anti-narcotics operation in the Ramkhamhaeng area in connection to a car-bomb plot in Bangkok,” he said.
Chakthip had previously downplayed speculation that the arrests, which took place last week, were linked to the car-bomb plot.
He had said the operations in the Ramkhamhaeng area were aimed at cracking down on the drug trade and boosting public safety,
“We have arrested a total of 114 drug suspects,” he said.
Chakthip urged people not to panic over the reported car-bomb attack plan, adding that such warnings were not uncommon.
He also assured the public that police could control the situation.
“Don’t get confused or else some ill-intentioned groups may take advantage of the situation,” he said.
He refused to disclose details about five vehicles that authorities had earlier linked to possible car-bomb attacks.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said his ministry had deployed kamnans and village heads as well as local administrative bodies to implement defensive strategies after reports of car-bomb threats.
“They can help by watching out for strangers and suspicious items,” he said.