THAILAND-BLAST/TOURISTS Tourists are concerned about safety after Bangkok bomb attack
Record ID:
143452
THAILAND-BLAST/TOURISTS Tourists are concerned about safety after Bangkok bomb attack
- Title: THAILAND-BLAST/TOURISTS Tourists are concerned about safety after Bangkok bomb attack
- Date: 18th August 2015
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) RATCHAPRASONG INTERSECTION / DAMAGED POLICE BOOTH VARIOUS OF TOURISTS WALKING PAST INTERSECTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) 29-YEAR-OLD TOURIST FROM UNITED STATES GRANT WIECZOREK SAYING: "Being a first time tourist it is, I'm not sure I would have come if this happened before I book my ticket, especially since, but now that I'm here there is no reason for me to not go on living even though it's something that you just have to deal with." TOURISTS WALKING PAST FOREIGN MEDIA REPORTING AT SCENE DAMAGED POLICE BOOTH GLASS ON GROUND PEOPLE LOOKING ON DEBRIS ON GROUND / PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF SIGN READING (In English) "CENTRAL WORLD" WOMAN WALKING WOMAN CRYING HAND HOLDING FLOWER WOMAN CRYING STANDING IN FRONT OF ERAWAN SHRINE AND THEN WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA1Z48IBY2OJ53ABNV4WAG8VFBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tourists on Tuesday (August 18) expressed concerns for their safety after a bomb attack in Bangkok killed at least 22 people, including eight foreigners and wounded 123 others.
Officials have not blamed any group for the bombing at the Erawan shrine on Monday (August 17) night, which the government called a bid to destroy the economy. No one has claimed responsibility.
Three Chinese were among the dead, China's official Xinhua news agency said. Two Hong Kong residents, two people from Malaysia and one person from the Philippines also died, officials said. Scores of people were wounded, including many from China and Taiwan.
"Being a first time tourist it is, I'm not sure I would have come if this happened before I book my ticket, especially since, but now that I'm here there is no reason for me to not go on living even though it's something that you just have to deal with," said 29-year-old Grant Wieczorek from the United States.
Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters there were "still anti-government groups out there" but gave no further details.
Prayuth said the attack, which took place during rush hour in the capital's bustling commercial hub, was unprecedented in Thailand.
Thailand has been riven for a decade by a sometimes violent struggle for power between political factions in Bangkok.
Occasional small blasts have been blamed on one side or the other. Two pipe bombs exploded outside a luxury shopping mall in the same area in February, but caused little damage.
Thai forces are also fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the predominantly Buddhist country's south, but those rebels have rarely launched attacks outside their heartland.
The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres, offices and a hospital, is a major attraction, especially for visitors from East Asia, including China. Many Thais also worship there.
Tourism is one of the few bright spots in an economy that continues to under perform more than a year after the military seized power in May 2014.
It accounts for about 10 percent of the economy, and the government had expected a record number of visitors this year following a sharp fall in 2014 during months of street protests and the coup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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