Police: Bombing conducted by 'network'

A woman prays, at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, on Wednesday. Sakchai Lalit / AP

Erawan Shrine reopens to the public two days after attack as officials continue search for suspects and motive behind deadly explosion

Thailand's national police chief said on Wednesday that a deadly bombing at a central Bangkok shrine was carried out by "a network," as investigators focused on a man seen in a grainy security video leaving a backpack behind just 20 minutes before the explosion.

Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung made the comment before a meeting of national police commanders, saying he was carrying orders from the prime minister who "is worried about the security of people and tourists in Thailand."

The shrine reopened two days after the attack, but little is known about who was behind the blast. No one has claimed responsibility for the Monday evening explosion at the Erawan Shrine, located at one of the capital's busiest intersections, which left 20 people dead and more than 120 injured.

Seven Chinese nationals, five from the mainland and two from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, have been confirmed killed in the blast, and 26 were seriously injured, the Chinese embassy said on Wednesday.