It was also clear that it was the command leadership that should be held responsible, rather than the troops that had fired the bullets. Most of the soldiers were from the provinces, and were informed that the protesters were communists, arsonists and vandals bent on destabilising the country. Some only arrived in Bangkok after the violence had commenced, and their impressions of gutted cars and buses, and government buildings on fire must have confirmed these beliefs. The police absolved themselves of all responsibility, with Police Director General Sawat Amornvivat giving testimony that he lost control on 8 May, when Kaset appointed Pol. Lt-Gen. Virote head of the task force to disperse demonstrators. Another senior police officer denied any police involvement in the firing of the Nang Lerng police station, but was prepared to admit that he had ordered units on to the streets to hunt down motorcycle gangs. He also acknowledged that police had beaten up protesters the Phan Fa bridge on 17 May.