NewsBite

Thailand hit by another bomb attack, says governor

AT least four people have been killed in eight bomb blasts across Thailand in the past 24 hours. It is not clear if Australians are among the injured.

Staff writers and wires
4 min read
August 12, 2016 - 10:11PM
News Corp Australia Network
Two bombs have exploded in Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture: Facebook/Oraya Sirirueang
Two bombs have exploded in Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture: Facebook/Oraya Sirirueang

THAILAND has been rocked by six bombs in less than 24 hours in a co-ordinated attack that has killed at least four people and injured dozens more, some of them foreign tourists.

Two explosions hit the southern province of Surat Thani around 8am local time on Friday, one in front of the provincial police station and another in front of the maritime police station.

Another bomb attack hit the tourist resort of Phuket around 9am. That explosion occurred near Patong beach, which is popular with Australian tourists. The blast injured a taxi driver.

Local media were also reporting that another explosion occurred in the seaside resort of Hua Hin, less than 12 hours after a separate “twin bomb” attack in the same city killed a woman and injured 20 more.

The earlier attacks in Hua Hin occurred shortly before midnight on Thursday, killing a Thai vendor, according to local police commander Kasana Jamswang

Thai police say a wave of bomb blasts in the central and southern parts of the country weren’t linked to Islamic terrorism.

Rescue workers help an unidentified woman after a bomb blast in the southern resort city of Hua Hin. Picture: Daily News via AP.
Rescue workers help an unidentified woman after a bomb blast in the southern resort city of Hua Hin. Picture: Daily News via AP.
People help an injured person after a series of blasts in Thailand. Picture: Daily News via AP.
People help an injured person after a series of blasts in Thailand. Picture: Daily News via AP.
One of those injured is Andrea Tazzioli, 51, from Italy who was picking up his own birthday cake when the bombs went off. Picture: AP Photo/Penny Yi Wang.
One of those injured is Andrea Tazzioli, 51, from Italy who was picking up his own birthday cake when the bombs went off. Picture: AP Photo/Penny Yi Wang.

Col. Krisana Patanacharoen said it was too soon to say who was behind the attacks, but “we are sure that it is not linked to terrorism”.

Analysts have tentatively pointed the finger at Muslim insurgent groups in the south who have for years been fighting the Thai state.

The bombs in Hua Hin wounded about 19 people, including tourists. The bombs were hidden in planters on a busy street with open-fronted bars and detonated by mobile phones, according to the BBC’s Jonathan Head.

The first bomb in Hua Hin went off about 10pm Thursday (1am Friday AEST), local deputy police chief Samer Yousamran said. About 20 minutes later, the second bomb exploded at a bar about 50 metres away, killing a Thai food vendor.

Bangkok Post reports the “double-tap” bomb explosions went off at Soi Bintabat, near the Fah Pah intersection.

Police said four of the injured tourists were from Germany, two from Italy and one from Austria. The Netherlands said four of its citizens were also wounded.

Perth couple Simon and Nicole Brown are currently in lockdown in their hotel as a suspicious package is investigated outside.

BLASTS DESIGNED TO MAIM

Bangkok Post reports the “double-tap” bomb explosions went off at Soi Bintabat, near the Fah Pah intersection.

It is not clear if Australians were among the injured. News Corp Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.

Municipality police chief, Pol. Colonel Sutthichai Srisopacharoenrat, said 19 people were hurt.

“Of the 19 [wounded], three are in serious condition and seven of the injured are foreigners — four women and three men,” he said. Two of the injured were reportedly British.

Graphic: News Corp / Google Earth
Graphic: News Corp / Google Earth
Emergency services rush to the scene of a bomb attack in Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture: AP
Emergency services rush to the scene of a bomb attack in Hua Hin, Thailand. Picture: AP

The papaya food cart vendor positioned at the front of the beer bar was rushed to hospital after the blast, but died of her injuries.

Photos from the scene show police identifying shrapnel scattered about the street that had been packed into the bombs to maximise harm.

British tourist Mark Gainsford told the BBC he was at a nearby bar when the bombs exploded.

“I heard people shouting ‘Bomb! Bomb!’ but I didn’t hear any blast,” he said.

“I ran out to see if I could help. I saw eight to 10 people injured, on the floor. The police arrived very quickly.”

Police are investigating and as yet do not know the motive or the identity of the bombers.

The explosions happened ahead of a public holiday on Friday as part of a long weekend celebrating the birthday of Queen Sirikit.

Hua Hin is a popular upscale Thai resort south of Bangkok and many people will have gone there for the holiday weekend.

In April, a British family was brutally beaten by a gang of Thai men as they left a bar in Hua Hin province.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is in “urgent contact” with Thai authorities to determine if any Australians have been affected by the bomb attack

“Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends who may be in the area should first attempt to contact them directly. If you are unable to contact them and continue to have concerns you should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 within Australia or +61 6261 3305 from overseas,” a statement reads.

SPATE OF ATTACKS

In a separate incident earlier on Thursday, a bomb exploded at a market in the southern Trang province in Thailand, injuring six people, police said. Police believe that explosion was related to a local dispute.

Thais voted less than a week ago in a referendum to adopt a military-backed constitution, the first test of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the ballot box since he seized power in a coup in May 2014.

Hua Hin is home to a palace for years frequented by Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch.

The 88-year-old is currently hospitalised in Bangkok for a myriad of health complications.

The blasts also come days before the one-year anniversary of the last major bombing in Thailand, an attack in the capital that killed 20 people on August 17, mostly foreign tourists.

The explosive was planted in a popular Hindu shrine in the capital and was the deadliest assault of its kind in recent history.

Thai authorities have accused two Uighur men from western China of the bombing. They have both denied involvement in the attack and their trial is set to begin later this month.

Thailand’s military junta, which seized power in 2014 after a decade of at times deadly political unrest, has touted increased stability in the kingdom as a major accomplishment of its rule.

But the generals have been unable to quell a festering Islamic insurgency in the three most southern provinces — nearly 1000 kilometres away from Hua Hin.

The conflict, which is largely contained to the far south region, has blighted the kingdom for over a decade and left over 6500 people dead

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/thailand-hit-by-another-bomb-attack-says-governor/news-story/5c7525c97c94494c031ca546c59eb573