Thawee Sodsong expressed sympathy on behalf of the group to the victims, both of whom work for the Suan Luang district office.

They sustained minor injuries while cleaning a garbage disposal site on Rama IX Road Soi 57/1 where a bomb was hidden.

Thawee also thanked the medical staff at Sirindhorn Hospital and wished the women a speedy recovery.

A Pheu Thai Party spokesperson among the well-wishers condemned the bombers and called for heightened security measures and a speedy investigation.

Thanakorn said he was disappointed with the former national police chief, insisting it was inconceivable that a government whose principals had run the country for the past five years would deliberately resort to such violence.

He also chastised Pheu Thai Party members for “ridiculing” the victims and concerned citizens on social media, a stance he called inhumane and immature.

Seripisuth alleged on Saturday that the government was behind the bombings, seeking to distract the news media and public from a row over an opposition MP’s accusation that the prime minister deliberately omitted a required phrase during his swearing-in last month.

Skipping the phrase violated the Constitution, Seripisuth charged, and thus invalidated both Prayut’s prime ministerial post and the entire Cabinet’s status.

Seripisut alleged on Saturday that the government was behind the bombings, seeking to distract the news media and public from a row over an opposition MP’s accusation that the prime minister deliberately omitted a required phrase during his swearing-in last month.

Skipping the phrase violated the Constitution, Seripisute charged, and thus invalidated both Prayut’s prime ministerial post and the entire Cabinet’s status.

He declined when asked by reporters to make any comment on Friday morning’s bomb and arson attacks in the city, saying only that citizens should be vigilant about possible further attacks.

Chuan said Janthra Hall at the new Parliament House was ready for use.

The building’s voting and audio systems were ready for use by both MPs and senators in their meetings, Chuan said, urging that they be used with care.

The police are still investigating the incident, a Japanese diplomatic source told a small group of Thai reporters about the attack on Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a 48-year-old Thai associate professor at Kyoto University.

Last week, Pavin told the audience at the East-West Centre forum in Washington DC about the attack on July 8.

Over the past few days, international news agencies like Washington Post, Financial Times and Reuters have reported on the attack.

Pavin, a critic of the country’s military, who lives in exile said he was attacked in his home in Japan last month and believes Thai authorities were behind the attack, Reuters reported.

Pavin said he was asleep with his partner when a man broke into their home last month at about 4am and sprayed the couple with a substance that burned their skin.

Neither was seriously hurt, but Pavin said they have been told by police not to return home, Reuters quoted him as saying.

“The attacker clearly wanted to intimidate,” said Pavin, adding that he had no personal disputes that could have motivated the attack.

“The doctor said the chemical was not deadly, but the burning sensation would stay for quite some time,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Pavin’s accusation was rejected by Thailand’s Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong, who is also head of HM the King’s Royal Guard Force, according to Reuters.

Apirat told Reuters that he had heard about the attack, but was astonished at the suggestion that the military could be involved.

Pavin, known as a prominent political dissident, has denounced the Thai military’s coups in 2006 and 2014. He has also openly criticised the monarch, Reuters reported.

AVM Pakdee Saengchuto delivered flowers and gift baskets to the five victims in hospital and conveyed Their Majesties’ concern.

His first stop was at Saint Louis Hospital in Sathorn district, where Ekkarin Yongsantia, 54, is being treated for injuries sustained in a blast at BTS Chong Nonsi Station. After that he visited Chanajai Lohmud, 28, and Sasinipha Phethonglang, 39, at the Vibharam Hospital in Bangkok’s Suan Luang district.

Chanajai was injured in the explosion in front of the Mahanakhon King Power Building near Chong Nonsi BTS Station, while Sasinipha was injured in the blast that took place in Soi 57/14 off Rama IX Road.

His last trip was to Sirindhorn Hospital in Prawet district where Kisna Phongsaisee, 46, and Sunthorn Rodsianglam, 56, are being treated. They too were injured in the blast on Soi 55/74 off Rama IX road.

The patients and their families said they appreciated Their Majesties’ kindness and concern as well as for providing them with help and moral support.

A police source said security camera footage caught the men walking to two spots in front of the complex’s Building B. The first suspect, wearing a black hat, appeared to be about 165 centimetres tall and about 50 years of age. He wore brown trousers and was carrying a black bag.

The second suspect was a little plump and also in the 50-year age range, the source said, adding that investigators have also spoken to the taxi driver who dropped the two off at the complex.

The cabbie told police that he had picked the duo up at Makro Rangsit shopping mall and that their faces were concealed with flu masks. He said the man with the black hat only said: “Go to Government Complex, Building B”, and that the two did not say much to each other inside the cab. He also noticed that their accent was neither northeastern nor central.

The cabbie confirmed delivering the two men to Building B at 3pm on Thursday.

Pol Lt-Colonel Panom Chuathong, deputy inspector of the Phya Thai Police Station, said the five individuals were seen entering a cloth shop in the roadside market at 11am on Thursday and leaving without making any purchases. All five were wearing flu masks, Panom added.

The fire burned down stalls on Soi Petchburi 19 in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district on Friday morning, and there were smaller fires set off simultaneously in the same area.

Investigators found a circuit board at the original shop, called Hop, while another circuit board and timer were found at a shop called Pui. This evidence prompted the police to suspect these fires were linked to the bomb blasts, which were also detonated using timers.

National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda signed an order on Saturday to set up the investigative panel, comprising 14 other police generals plus junior investigators.

The order stated that this special panel has been created to investigate the planting of two fake bombs in front of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters at 3.45pm on Thursday and a series of bomb blasts at a government office, a community areas and public areas in Bangkok on Friday morning.

The order stated that since the incidents affected people’s lives and properties, the investigations must be comprehensive, quick, accurate, fair and efficient, which is why this panel is required.

The order said the four top cops in the panel are Srivara, police inspector-general Pol General Suchart Thirasawat, deputy police commissioner general Pol General Chaiwat Ketworachai and commissioner of the Roya Thai Police Strategy Office Pol Lt-General Kraiboon Suadsong.

Government spokeswoman Naruemol Pinyosinwat said the prime minister told her to thank police and security agency officials on his behalf for their all-out efforts to protect lives and property.

She said the PM also called on the public to have faith in his government, and promised that the situation was under control.

The prime minister also thanked the media for playing a key role in telling the difference between real and fake news and providing the correct information to the people, Naruemol added.

He was speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting on Friday night, when he was asked to comment on a statement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about Thailand’s democracy.

During a joint press statement with Don, Pompeo said 2019 was a historic year for Thailand following the coronation of King Rama X and following the general election that elected a civilian government and ended the rule by a military-backed government, which was in power for over five years. Pompeo said the US hoped to see Thailand move forward in the democratic direction.

Don said the Asean meeting did not discuss about democracy in Thailand because the Kingdom has already held an election and the country is now ruled by an elected coalition government, which has delivered its policy statement to Parliament.

“There is no question about Thailand’s democracy because it already exists,” Don said.