BANGKOK • A Thai military court has indicted two men accused of carrying out a Bangkok bomb attack that killed 20 people, including 14 foreigners, the deadliest such incident in Thai history.

A lawyer for one of the men said 10 charges were brought against the pair yesterday, including premeditated murder, illegal possession of weapons and murder, for the bombing in August.

"The court has accepted the 10 charges that prosecutors formally brought against the two men," said lawyer Schoochart Kanpai.

The two were named as Bilal Mohammed, also known as Adem Karadag, and Mierali Yusufu. Documents sent by prosecutors to the court said both men were Chinese nationals from the Uighur minority.

The attack at the Erawan Shrine, a major landmark in Bangkok, injured more than 120 people.

Thai police have said the blast was revenge for a crackdown on human trafficking. They ruled out any link to the repatriation of 109 Muslim Uighur people to China in July.

The two accused have been held at a Bangkok army base since their arrests in August and September. Police have issued arrest warrants for 17 people over charges stemming from the Bangkok attack, but say many have fled abroad.

Mr Schoochart said interpreters were being arranged for both suspects as they could not communicate with interpreters provided by police. The men will formally hear the charges against them on Feb 16.

REUTERS