THAILAND: Two killed and 30 wounded by series of bomb attacks in Bangkok, forcing cancellation of New Year celebrations

Record ID: 356929

  • Title: THAILAND: Two killed and 30 wounded by series of bomb attacks in Bangkok, forcing cancellation of New Year celebrations
  • Date: 1st January 2007
  • Summary: (BN11) BANGKOK, THAILAND (DECEMBER 31, 2006) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) SOLDIER VARIOUS OF DAMAGE FROM BLAST ONLOOKERS BESIDE PLASTIC TABLES AND CHAIRS OUTSIDE SHOPPING MALL, WITH SIGN ON MALL READING IN ENGLISH: 'VICTORY CORNER' POLICEMAN CHECKING BACKPACK BELONGING TO MOTORCYCLIST TRAFFIC ON BANGKOK STREET
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1U0KGJZN0CQD221OYWHLUCSI
  • Story Text: A series of bombs exploded across Bangkok on Sunday (December 31), killing two people, wounding 30 and forcing the cancellation of New Year celebrations.
    Eight of the wounded were foreigners hit by two bombs which went off at around midnight (1700 GMT) in a place where thousands of people would have been counting down to 2007 at the main event, if the earlier bombs had not forced street parties to be called off.
    Six bombs went off several hours before midnight, at least five of them set off by timers within a 15-minute period, in areas of the sprawling city of nine million people which are not normally frequented by foreigners.
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
    Some people, including foreigners, had not heard about the cancellation and headed for the main celebration in the heart of Bangkok's shopping district.
    Three Hungarians, two Britons, two Serbs and one U.S. citizen were wounded by the midnight bombs, officials said. None was thought to be in a serious condition.
    Police said there were no immediate arrests and there was no apparent connection to violence in the Muslim far south where militants have set off similar series of bombs in towns during three years of separatist insurgency.
    After vsiiting some of the wounded in hospital, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said: "We still can't conclude anything on the incident, the police are still looking for evidence. What I can say now is that this is well planned and coordinated."
    He said it was not necessary to declare a state of emergency.
    Deputy national police chief General Achiravit Supanpasat told a news conference: "The acts of the group were aimed at creating panic and chaos during the New Year celebrations and to discredit the ability of the authorities who keep the peace."
    He also said he did not believe the violence had anything to do with militants in southern Thailand, referring to an insurgency which has cost more than 1,800 lives.
    But Achiravit did not say who police thought was responsible for the first such violence in Bangkok since a September 19 military coup ousted elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
    The most damaging of the earlier bombs exploded at a bus stop outside a shopping mall near the Victory Monument, a city landmark, killing one person and wounding 16.
    Among the other bombs, one was placed in a trash can at a market in the port district, killing one person and wounding four, including a 10-year-old. Another went off near a police booth, wounding two, police said.
    U.S. tourist Michael Nelson commented: "Well, I was a little bit disappointed because we were hoping to share with all the other people the entertainment and the live music that was going on. I went to that area and then there was some panic and people started rushing and it was a false alarm, maybe people getting scared because of these bombs that have gone off in Bangkok."
    A Thai citizen, Namfon Kittimanotham, said: "It's really regretful, I am really upset with whoever set up the bombs tonight."
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