An apparent bomb-rigged motorcycle exploded in a busy commercial area in Bangkok on Monday, killing at least 12 people near a site that has been a hub for political rallies and clashes in the past, police and news reports said.
Other details about the blast were not immediately clear, and there was no claim of responsibility.
The Reuters news agency quoted deputy national police chief Aek Angsananond as saying a “motorcycle bomb” exploded near the Erawan shrine, a popular shopping and tourist area in central Bangkok. The shrine also draws a steady stream of Hindu worshipers and others.
The area, also known as the Ratchaprasong intersection, has been a staging area for political demonstrations between powerful rival factions in past years. In 2010, security forces stormed the streets in a bloody crackdown against supporters of an ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
[Gallery: Thai protesters face military]
A policeman and a rescue worker said at least 12 people had been killed, Reuters reported. The television network Thai PBS said its reporter counted 12 bodies.
Local media also said at least 20 people were injured.
Thailand has faced a series of conflicts over the past decades, including a sporadic Muslin insurgency against the predominantly Buddhist leadership. Clashes between political factions also have spilled over into violence and major disruptions such as occupations of Bangkok’s international airport.
The Thai military has effectively ruled the country since May 2014 after ousting an elected government. In April, Thailand’s military-backed government imposed tight rules on the size of public gatherings.
In February, a series of small blasts targeted a shopping mall in Bangkok, leaving one person injured. In 2006, four people were killed in explosions in the southern tourist area of Hat Yi.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...4de-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?hpid=z4
Other details about the blast were not immediately clear, and there was no claim of responsibility.
The Reuters news agency quoted deputy national police chief Aek Angsananond as saying a “motorcycle bomb” exploded near the Erawan shrine, a popular shopping and tourist area in central Bangkok. The shrine also draws a steady stream of Hindu worshipers and others.
The area, also known as the Ratchaprasong intersection, has been a staging area for political demonstrations between powerful rival factions in past years. In 2010, security forces stormed the streets in a bloody crackdown against supporters of an ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
[Gallery: Thai protesters face military]
A policeman and a rescue worker said at least 12 people had been killed, Reuters reported. The television network Thai PBS said its reporter counted 12 bodies.
Local media also said at least 20 people were injured.
Thailand has faced a series of conflicts over the past decades, including a sporadic Muslin insurgency against the predominantly Buddhist leadership. Clashes between political factions also have spilled over into violence and major disruptions such as occupations of Bangkok’s international airport.
The Thai military has effectively ruled the country since May 2014 after ousting an elected government. In April, Thailand’s military-backed government imposed tight rules on the size of public gatherings.
In February, a series of small blasts targeted a shopping mall in Bangkok, leaving one person injured. In 2006, four people were killed in explosions in the southern tourist area of Hat Yi.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...4de-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?hpid=z4
