Bangs in Bangkok

December 31, 2006

just heard,

loads of bombs or somthing in bangkok

4 weeks and were there banging, lets hope its safe by then.

December 31, 2006

Bangkok hit by series of blasts

At least 12 people have been hurt in four explosions in the Thai capital, Bangkok, reports quoting police say.

The blasts took place within 90 minutes of each other, with the first one at the Victory Monument in the centre.

Further explosions were reported at two police posts in Bangkok's northern suburbs and in the Klong Tuey area.

Thailand's prime minister was ousted in a military coup in September while the country's south has seen a wave of attacks blamed on Muslim separatists.

Police are investigating suspicious packages found at another six locations in the capital, a police spokesman told the iTV television network.

Extracted from BBC News: Bangkok Blasts

December 31, 2006

Latest BBC update:

Bangkok explosions leave two dead

A series of small explosions has left two people dead and at least 20 injured in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

At least six blasts at widely-scattered places occurred within an hour or so as streets were filling up with people ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations.

The city mayor ordered the cancellation of two major public celebrations and other smaller ones, AP reported.

Police do not believe foreign groups or militants from the Muslim south are to blame, says the BBC's Jonathan Head.

Our Bangkok correspondent says many Thais suspect the bombs were the work of opponents of the current military government, which forced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office in September.

The largest bomb or grenade explosion went off near a bus station next to one of Bangkok's busiest intersections, Victory Monument.

Police said this caused the biggest number of casualties.

Reports suggest the device was planted beneath a seat at a bus stop or in a rubbish bin.

One witness who was standing nearby, 17-year-old Chalermsak Sanbee told Reuters news agency:

"There was a big bang and people started screaming and running. I saw people with blood all over their legs and faces."

Other blasts occurred:

close to a police post in the Saphan Kwai district
at a car park in the Season Square shopping mall
at a market in the Klong Toey district
in the northern suburb of Kae Lai
along Sukhumvit Road in the north-east

National police chief General Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said the authorities were inspecting other locations where suspicious packages were found.

Extracted from BBC News: Bangkok Bombs

December 31, 2006

Here's the CBC News update:

Bombs kill 2 in Bangkok

Last Updated: Sunday, December 31, 2006 | 9:37 AM ET

The Associated Press

A series of bomb blasts rocked the Thai capital late Sunday, killing at least two people and capping a year of unrest in the country.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the bombings in Bangkok, which also injured 12, police said.

Police spokesman Gen. Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said on the iTV television network Sunday that small bombs exploded in at least four places.

Authorities were inspecting six more locations where there were suspicious packages.

Bomb squad officers search for clues at the scene of an explosion Sunday in downtown Bangkok.

(David Longstreath/Associated Press)

Ajirawit said six people were injured by a bomb in a slum, and four by a bomb near a department store at Victory Monument, a major traffic circle. He said the other blasts were near a police post, where two were injured, and the fourth in a northern suburb.

Bombings and shootings occur almost daily in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where an Islamic insurgency that flared in January 2004 has killed more than 1,900 people.

Thailand is a largely Buddhist country, but Muslims make up the majority in the deep south, where they have long complained of discrimination.

The insurgents are not known to have launched any attacks in Bangkok.

Thailand has also been immersed in political turmoil. In September, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless coup by Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin.

The military installed Surayud Chulanont as the interim prime minister until elections in October 2007.

Extracted from CBC.ca: Bangkok Bombs

It is not going to stop me going. :001_XMas_Chokdee1:

I see it as more room and TGs for us! Because all the chickenshits will stay home. Not going to help an already bad high season for the Thais though.

This is the CTV News report:

2 killed, 20 injured as bombs explode in Bangkok

Updated Sun. Dec. 31 2006 10:24 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

New Year's Eve was heralded with a series of deadly bombings in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday that left at least two dead and 20 injured.

Police search for clues Sunday evening, Dec. 31, 2006, at the scene of a bombing in downtown, Bangkok, Thailand.

(AP Photo/David Longstreath)

The violence prompted city officials to disperse thousands of people who had gathered to ring in the New Year in the capital city.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the six bomb blasts late Sunday local time.

Gen. Ajirawit Suphanaphesat, the national police chief, confirmed on the iTV television network that six explosions took place.

He said police were inspecting several other locations were suspicious packages had been reported.

The attacks conclude a tense year in Thailand highlighted by a bloodless military coup and a growing Muslim insurgency in the country's southernmost provinces.

Ajirawit said insurgents weren't likely to blame for the Sunday bombings.

A major New Year's celebration scheduled to take place at the Central World Plaza shopping mall was cancelled and revellers were told to go home and security was increased across the capital.

Six people were hurt when one of the bombs exploded in a slum and another four were injured by a bomb near a department store, Ajirawit told AP.

He said the other blasts were near a police post, where two were injured, and the fourth went off in a northern suburb.

"I heard a loud explosion and I thought it was fireworks. I ran there and saw a bleeding woman at the bus stop," said Somrak Manphothong, a receptionist at the Saxophone bar near the Victory Monument.

"Another guy was lying on the floor covering with blood and his wife was shaking his body."

Police said the situation remains under control.

Bombings and shooting have been common in Thailand's three southern provinces: Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where an Islamic insurgency has claimed 1,900 lives since January 2004. However, violent attacks are less common in the rest of the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

The insurgents have not been known to launch attacks in Bangkok.

With files from The Associated Press

Extracted from CTV.ca: Bangkok Bombs

December 31, 2006

Can you make the title bigger I'm having trouble reading it!! So do you lot think its muslims?

December 31, 2006

I guess all I'm really saying is that the Thais don't even know for sure who it is. To this point I don't know of any violent acts perpetrated by Taksin supporters. It has always been policy to downplay the trouble in the Southern provinces and to try and divert attention away from the political crisis there. The Thaius are not about to do or say anything now that will give that insurrection any ligitimacy. Therefore this does not involve them, even if it does.

I think we should not go further down this road as it could be seen as being critical of the Thai government and we do not wish to appear that way in the least.

December 31, 2006

Two more have just gone off. Details are sketchy at the moment but one is said to be near a large shopping mall and the casualties are mainly foreigners.

December 31, 2006

Definitely not good news when the tourists are getting injured or killed. This would make me believe even more that it is not Taksin supporters as he has a lot of backers internationally and this could well hurt support for him. The Southern Muslims on the other hand will be well served by getting their cause in the international news and bringing media attention to their cause. Both are good reasons for the government to suggest that it is Taksin supporters and not related to the South Thailand insurgency.

Here is the latest from CTV News:

Two more bomb attacks add to tension in Bangkok

Updated Sun. Dec. 31 2006 1:01 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The number of bomb attacks in Bangkok, Thailand has now hit eight after two more explosions went off in the capital Sunday, wounding at least 10 people -- eight of them reportedly foreigners.

Reuters news service reported that the explosions -- one of them near a major shopping centre -- took place near midnight, just a few hours after six other bombs killed two people and wounded more than 20.

The initial series of attacks prompted city officials to cancel celebrations and disperse thousands of people who had gathered to ring in the New Year.

Police have not named any suspects.

"There has been no claims of responsibility nor have there been any arrests," Heather Kelly, of Asiaworks Television told CTV Newsnet.

"At a press conference earlier this evening Thai police said they weren't ruling anything out but that at this stage no, no one has confirmed responsibility nor have they moved toward any arrests."

Earlier, Gen. Ajirawit Suphanaphesat, the national police chief, confirmed on the iTV television network that the six initial explosions took place.