All of those killed were of Vietnamese descent, two of them US nationals and four were Vietnamese nationals, Sletta said, adding that he had spoken to the Vietnamese ambassador.
The prime minister said the people were believed to have been dead since Monday. He said there were no immediate signs of robbery or assault and that preliminary investigations were focusing on the possibility that the visitors had ingested a harmful substance.
Lieutenant-General Thithi Sansavanh, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said investigators’ initial conclusion was that no one among the dead was responsible for the deaths.
“We are not saying they were poisoned,” he told a news conference. “We are considering the possibility that there was a deliberate attempt on their lives. We suspect that someone was trying to harm or kill this group.”
The deaths of six foreigners at a luxury hotel in Thailand’s capital are a potential blow to a country whose economy relies heavily on tourism.
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Angelina Hughes, a spokeswoman for Hyatt Asia Pacific, said in an emailed statement that Hyatt is “deeply saddened by this tragic situation” and that “the safety and security of our guests and employees is always our top priority.” She said Hyatt is cooperating with local authorities and is referring further questions to police.
In a statement to The Washington Post, Vietnam’s ambassador to Thailand, Pham Viet Hung, visited the hotel with embassy officials and said the embassy was working closely with local authorities to “monitor the incident, clarify information, identify victims and implement necessary civil protection measures.”
“The State Department is aware of the reports,” a State Department spokesman said in a statement. [of] “Two Americans killed in Bangkok”
The State Department is “closely monitoring the situation” and “stands ready to provide consular assistance,” the spokesman said.
“When an American dies abroad, it is the responsibility of local authorities to determine the cause of death,” the spokesman said, referring questions about the death to Thai authorities. “Out of respect for the family at this difficult time, we will not be making any further comment.”
Representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. embassies in Bangkok and Hanoi did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening local time.
photograph Photographs of the room where the body was found showed room service food and teacups laid out, much of it untouched, with some of the plates still covered in plastic wrap.
Police Commissioner Titi said the food had not been eaten, but the drink appeared to have been “drinkn completely” from the cup, leaving residue at the bottom, which he said was collected as evidence.
The dead did not suffer any traumatic injuries, but one had “facial injuries” that appeared to be caused by falling onto a hard surface rather than being punched, he said.
According to Titi, the room was locked from the inside, and after the guest failed to check out on time, a housekeeper entered through the back door and discovered the body. The manager then called the police.
Four of the bodies were found in the living room and two in the bedroom, Titi said. The attackers had checked into the hotel at different times and stayed in five rooms across two floors of the hotel.
Police said guests had moved their luggage into the room, “indicating the two men knew each other.” The hotel told police that the room owed money.
Authorities are combing through table settings, items left in the rooms, guests’ luggage, security camera footage and visitors’ social media profiles to try to establish what happened.
Wirawan reported from Bangkok. Rebecca Tan in Singapore contributed to this report.
