BANGKOK — Officials say they have confiscated numerous firearms and explosive devices from the dismantled rally site of demonstrators who were protesting the recently-ousted government.
After seizing power in a military coup yesterday evening, the army ordered The People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) to end their rally against the former government.
PCAD leaders announced that heir mission has been achieved and agreed to vacate Ratchadamnoen Avenue where they had been camping for weeks.
At around 6 a.m. today, a combined force of over 200 soldiers, police officers, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials started an effort to clean up the rally site and re-open the roads to the public.
The officers spent several hours dismantling barricades, barbed wire, and sandbag "bunkers" erected by the PCAD guards to defend their rally site.
The search turned up illegal items including two tear gas launchers, 30 tear gas canisters, 10 handguns, and a number of homemade explosives, police officers say. Military-grade equipment such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and gasmasks were also found.
All items were confiscated and sent to Dusit Police Station for further legal prosecution.
Some PCAD protesters were seen entering the rally site and collecting their belongings during the clean up effort. They were not stopped by the police or the soldiers.
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