BANGKOK (AFP) – Thai police said they arrested a team of five men armed with explosives Monday after a tip-off that bomb attacks were planned near the seat of government in Bangkok.

The detentions came a day after a rally by anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters and a day ahead of a rival, royalist "Yellow Shirt" demonstration due to be held in the same part of the capital.

"The police were tipped off that there would be bomb attacks near Government House," said Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri.

"A team was arrested -- a man with two home-made explosives, and after further investigation another four men with three rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), an RPG launcher and 34 M79 grenades," he said.

The first man was found near Government House while the later arrests were made at a house in Bangkok, he added.

Police General Asawin Kwanmeaung said they thought the men "wanted to create troubles".

More than 90 people were left dead after clashes between Red Shirt protesters and troops in Bangkok in April and May last year.

In the months after the army broke up the rally, which was demanding immediate elections, the capital was rattled by a string of minor explosions while it was under emergency rule.