Traces of cyanide have been found in cups and a teapot in the room of a luxury Bangkok hotel where the bodies of six people were discovered in a suspected deliberate poisoning.
Police in Thailand said poisoning by cyanide – a rapidly-acting, deadly chemical – was the likely cause of death of the three men and three women.
The four Vietnamese nationals and two Vietnamese Americans were found by a hotel staff member in the room, which was locked from the inside.
Food ordered by room service was found untouched inside the room – but drinks had been consumed.
Four of the bodies were in the living room and two in the bedroom.
Hotel records showed there were no other visitors to the room.
Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwpan, head of the Thai police force’s forensic division, told a news conference on Wednesday one of the six is the one who committed the murders at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel.
“After staff brought teacups and two hot water bottles, milk and teapots… one of the six introduced cyanide,” he said.
The six bodies were found at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Pic: Reuters
Interviews with relatives of the dead revealed there had been a dispute over debt, police said.
Officers said the investigation – aided by the FBI – also revealed a possible motive could be a conflict among the six victims regarding multi-million Baht investments.
The six were last seen alive when the meal was delivered to the room on Monday afternoon.
The initial results of a post-mortem are expected on Thursday.
Police officers speak to staff at the hotel. Pic: AP
The Vietnamese government said its embassy in Bangkok was working with Thai authorities on the case, while the US State Department said it was monitoring the situation.
The deaths were initially reported by some Thai media as a shooting.
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The hotel, operated by Erawan Group, has over 350 rooms and is located in a popular tourist area in the Thai capital known for luxury shopping and restaurants.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had yesterday called for a swift investigation into the deaths to limit the impact on Thailand’s vital tourism sector.
When asked if the deaths would affect a meeting with the Russian energy minister at the hotel later today, the prime minister said it was unlikely.
“This wasn’t an act of terrorism or a breach in security, everything is fine,” he said.
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