If Mieraili did indeed belong to the separatist group, and if the evasive Izan’s Chinese passport was authentic, authorities will likely pursue possible links to Uighur extremism in relation to the bombing.
Some have ventured that the attack, which killed five Chinese tourists and two from Hong Kong, may have been a retaliatory gesture against Thailand for the forced repatriation of more than 100 Uighurs to Beijing in early July.