Rirkchapol Poolsilp, 53, a Yala resident, was arrested after an M26 grenade, four homemade pingpong bombs, two pipe bombs and 20 giant firecrackers were found in the room at Muang Thong Thani Condominium.

The suspect admitted that he was one of red-shirt military leader Wuttipong “Ko tee” Kotthammakhun’s men, Deputy Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, said.

Srivara said the suspect was among 27 red-shirts who were being monitored by police.

The bombs found in the room were the same type used in the attack at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in 2014, he said.

Police were searching for more suspects as they found other people’s belongings in the room, Srivara added.

Police were alerted when the owner rented the room to a new tenant who sent a maid to clean the room and found the bombs.

Police from the Pakkret police station and bomb disposal officers went to the scene about 8.30pm and found the explosives in the room rented by Rirkchapol.

The bomb disposal officers took about three hours to dispose of the bombs. Other bomb making tools were also found in the room.

Police learned from the owner of the room that the suspect had rented the room for more than five years but the electricity and water had been cut off as he had failed to pay his bills. He also had not paid his rent.

The suspect was arrested at 10pm when he returned to the room. He attempted to run away when he saw police but was caught after a brief chase.