Detention of Iranian bomb suspect extended in Thailand

In this Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 file photo, Thai immigration officers escort detained Iranian Mohammad Kharzei, (center), at the immigration headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. In Bangkok, the three Iranian suspects in custody appeared to take advantage of Thailand's foreigner-friendly culture to live openly while allegedly putting together a bomb cache whose targets, police say, included the Israeli Embassy. -- PHOTO: AP

BANGKOK (AP) - A Thai court on Wednesday allowed police to continue to detain one of five Iranian suspects in an alleged terror plot that was exposed by an accidental blast in a residential Bangkok neighbourhood.

Police Major-General Piya Uthayo said Mohammad Kharzei, 42, will be held at a Bangkok prison for at least 12 more days. He was arrested on charges of being an accomplice to possession of unlawful explosives and causing explosions that damaged property and harmed other people.

Three men identified as Iranians fled the house where the blast occurred on Feb 14. Police found bombs in the house, but are still not clear about the suspects' intentions.

There is speculation that they planned to attack Israeli targets in the Thai capital as part of a covert battle being waged over Iran's alleged quest to develop nuclear weapons.