Traces of cyanide found in cups in hotel room where six were found dead in Bangkok hotel, Thai police say | World News

The three men and three women were discovered in a room that was locked from the inside.

In the room of a luxury hotel in Bangkok where the bodies of six people were discovered, presumably deliberately poisoned, traces of cyanide were found in cups and a teapot.

Thai police said the cause of death of the three men and three women was suspected to be poisoning by cyanide – a fast-acting, deadly chemical.

The four Vietnamese nationals and two Vietnamese Americans were found by a chambermaid in the room, which was locked from the inside.

The food ordered from room service was found untouched in the room – but the drinks had been consumed.

Four of the bodies were in the living room and two in the bedroom.

Hotel records indicated that there were no other visitors in the room.

Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwpan, head of the forensic department of the Thai police, said at a press conference on Wednesday that one of the six perpetrators was 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 officers introduced cyanide,” he said.

Interviews with the relatives of the dead revealed that there had been an argument over debts, police said.

Officials said the FBI-assisted investigation also revealed that a possible motive could have been a conflict among the six victims over investments worth millions of baht.

The six were last seen alive when food was brought to their rooms on Monday afternoon.

Initial results of an autopsy are expected on Thursday.

The Vietnamese government said its embassy in Bangkok was cooperating with Thai authorities on the case, while the U.S. State Department said it was monitoring the situation.

Some Thai media initially reported that the deaths were the result of shootings.

Operated by the Erawan Group, the 350-room hotel is located in a popular tourist district of the Thai capital, known for its luxury shopping and dining.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday called for a speedy investigation into the deaths to limit the impact on Thailand’s important tourism sector.

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