Series of Bombs Kills and Injures Several People in Bangkok
Explosives went off almost simultaneously in several places accross Bangkok at around 18:00 local time, injuring at least 20 people as the Thai capital had just started celebrating New Year's eve. This news will be continuously updated as more details become available.
31.12.2006 | text Gregers Moller
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Photo from the Klong Toei bomb scene shows hole in a trash can alledgedly caused by a fragment of the bomb.
Year end revellers leave the Seacon Square shopping complex. All public parties were cancelled in Bangkok. Central World Plaza, where the largest party should have taken place, say it cost them around 30 mill baht to cancel the party.
At Anusawari Chai / Victory monument the most people were injured.
Police gathering evidence at the bomb scene near the Victory monument.
An injured person receives treatment at the Rachawithi Hospital at the Victory Monument.
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(Note: To ensure you are reading the latest updated version of this news, please press Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard or click "refresh" in your browser.)
Around 18:00 on Sunday evening local time in Bangkok, bombs exploded in several places acccross the Thai capital killing several people and injuring many more. All public Count-Down-Parties across the city has been cancelled.
The first bomb exploded at 17:47. The number of bombs and the size of the damage may be wrongly reported by the sources used for the following report, based on Thai news sources. Feel free to call the mobile phone of Editor Gregers Moller +66 8 1629 0117 if you have corrections or first hand knowledge of any further details.
The bombs reportedly exploded in the following locations:
Victory Monument (in Thai "Anusawari Chai")
- Time: about 6.30 pm
- The bomb was near a bus station outside the Dok Yai bookstore.
- The bomb was placed in a trashcan
- A tree broke in the explosion
- 15 injured, reported as 9 females and 4 male
- 1 Thai national, Mr. Songkran Kanchana killed as confirmed by authorities
Saphan Kwai
- Near the Big C supermarket
- A witness saw a man dropped a grenade from a pedestrian bridge just over the police box.
- The roof of the police box has a big hole.
- 2 people injured
- 1 person seriously injured.
Seacon Square
- Time 18:42
- At the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, a loud explosion went off at the parking space, creating a panic but no injury.
- Authorities ordered all shoppers to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok largest, and all shops to close down for business.
- The explosion was at the motorcycle parking lot.
- No injuries reported.
In Seacon Square, a cleaner saw a can of potato chips of the Sprinkle brand. She took it with the intention of eating it, but then noticed there was a cable into the can. She then gave the can to a security guard, Mr. Vitoon Imnapae who took it outside to the small park. Here, he placed it on the ground and walked back to find a tire to lay around it to protect it if it was a bomb. Then it exploded. A person walking neaby got hurt.
Klong Toey
- Bomb exploded at the fresh market near the Na Ranong intersection.
- The bomb was hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine exploded.
- The explosion caused a secondary explosion to a number of cookinggas cylinders that were situated nearby.
- 5 people injured, four adults and one girl 12 years hit in the leg
- Update 20.45: 7 injured
- 2 people reportedly killed
Khae Rai
- Bomb exploded at the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi province just north of Bangkok
- The bomb was placed in a trash can near the police box
- No injuries.
- Police said the closed circuit TV monitors went out of action about 3 hours before.
Sukhumvit Soi 62
- Time: 18:30
- The bomb exploded at thre expressway intersection
- Glas shattered in two houses.
- One car which had just come down from the express way was damaged.
- No reported injuries
As the news broke, all department stores in Bangkok asked customers to leave and closed down.
The Bangkok Skytrain system, BTS and the Subway train system, MRT, announced that they would keep running untill 12 midnight the 31 December and open again 6 o'clock.
Thai Airways say they have increased safety measures. More vigil checking of luggage and safety checking onboard the planes. All flights have moved check in times forward to be 2 hours before departure.
Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected to take part in the New Year's count down.
"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.
Thai New Agency quoted Surayud as asking people wishing to join new year party on Sunday night to avoid crowded areas.
The premier has ordered all security officers; police and soldiers, to reinforce in many areas in Bangkok. He ordered crime scene inspectors to collect all evidences from the attack scenes in order to know which groups mastermind the attacks. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Surayudh visited injured people at the Rachawithi Hospital and from there he went to Chulalongkorn Hospital where other injured were hospitalized.
Soldiers manned security check points at several MRT and BTS stations. Througout the city and its suburbs, many road intersections had soldiers deployed.
Elsewhere in Thailand, the news resulted in count down parties to be cancelled in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen.
Midnight bomb attacks
Close to midnight two more bombs exploded near the main planned count down event outside Central World. Several foreigners were seriously injured. They were taken to Police Hospital and Rachawithi Hospital.
One bomb went off near the bridge over Klong Saen Saep crossing over to Pradoo Nam and the other was near the walk over to the Gaysorn Plaza opposite the square.
Central World at the Pradoo Nam harbour on the Klong Saen Saep
- Time: 00.04
- The bom exploded at the stop for passenger pick up trucks.
- Police say the bomb was hidden in the bumper tire in a car on the pier.
- 7 people injured. 6 people are foreigners, one person Thai.
- Road and intersection has been sealed off.
The Police Hospital informed at 01.10 that the nationalities of the injured were:
Serbia - 2 persons
UK - 1 person
US - 1 person
Hungary - 1 person
Thai - 1 person
Fear gripped the city
As the news spread to the many Thais and foreigners celebrating New Year around the capital, several reports of possible bombs were reported. All were taken serious but fortunately all turned out not to be bombs.
Saphan Kwai BTS station
- Bomb repoprtedly found before it exploded, but not later confirmed.
Yaowarat
- No more news. Probably empty threat.
Macro on Chaengwattana
- Reported bomb said to be an empty threat.
Major Cineplex, Rachayothin
- The bomb was reported at around 21.00
- The bomb was placed in a trashcan on second floor in the car park. No further news, probably empty threat.
Big C on Rajadamri Road
- A suspected bomb in a plastic bag outside a Telewiz shop on 1st floor turned out to contain just garbage.
Khao San Road
- A suspected bomb in Buddy Bar on the famous back packer road turned out to be false alarm.
Lumpini Night Bazaar
- A suspected bomb Bar turned out to be false alarm.
Who did it?
For reports who were behind the attacks, please await official news announcements...
Reader Comments:-
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Kensuke Suzuki :
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Dear Gregers,
Thank you very much for keep us updated. The information was very useful for non-Thai who does not understand local news.
Updates on news was the quickest among non-Thai news source. No other media contained detailed information as yours.
Thank you very much for your hard work.
Best Regards,
Kensuke Suzuki |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Oskar Jørgensen :
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I am suporting Kensuke Suzuki!
Thanks alot Gregers! It is HARD to get correct inof in such matters!
Oskar At Baan Sabaijai |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Andy Wimmer :
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| Gregers, outstanding information. thanks. i would appreciate if you could keep in touch by email on some updates. i have some friends of mine in Bangkok right now and we are, of course, overly concerned about their safety. your notes above are of great help. Happy New Year (under the circumstances) Andy Wimmer, Singapore |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Jaap G. Klasema :
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Excellent reporting and very rapid too !
The analysis is also very sensible and to the point.
Certainly hope that the truth will be uncovered sooner, rather than later, for all of our sakes.
Keep it coming.
Jaap Klasema, Pattaya - Thailand |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Gregers Moller :
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Dear Jaap G Klasema,
You may notice that the analysis I had posted has suddenly been removed. The website was temporarily taken off the air, and I believe it was because the rationale offered. It is now deleted and the website is now again available. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Clive :
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Thanks for the detailed reporting. We have family vacationing in Bangkok and are worried because we haven't heard from them.
Please update with names or nationalities if you have these available. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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joann west :
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| please keep us informed as of the happenings around the thailand area, i have a son and daughter in-law that will be traveling to that area on feb 4th, his job is transferring him to that area. thanks |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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David Valentine, Bri :
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Hello!
As we are about to leave for a vacation in Thailand, beginning in a city we love, it is indeed un-nerving to think we will become unintentioned targets of a war. This will not deter us from visiting and being with the friendy people of Thailand no matter the politics of radicals that see their only way of furthering their cause with bombs and guns. Peace will prevail! |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Frank (Tha-An) Lin :
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Dear All,
I'm a student in Bangkok, and I just wanted to clarify that although the bombings were widespread, they were not particularly high-powered compared to others in other countries. The point is that there is no "war" going on in my country. Although it was a little scary to hear the 9pm blast while I was at my friend's house. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Bruno (Makati, Phili :
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Gregers, you are doing great job by informing us what is happening in Thailand.
Thank you and Happy New Year and without new bomb atacks.
More power to you. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Padraic (Bangkok) :
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| Fantastic work and far ahead of all the major English-language media outlets, including wires services. How and by whom, however, was your website taken down due to comments in your analysis (which, by the way, I would very much like to read, as the nebulous explanation offered by the government is convincing nobody....)? Thanks for your great work. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Jörgen Englund :
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Gregers, as usual thanks for keeping us well informed of all happenings in the region.
Hoping for a New Year without all this crap and all the best.
Jörgen in Dhaka |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Toni Ivergard :
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Stockholm 01 01 2007
You are good! I have been following the news since 6.30 pm yesterday. Your facts and comments are outstanding. To blame a specific political party or anyone at this early stage is as naive as blaming the Thai military (as one can see at many websites). It will take a long time (years) till we will know confirmed and verified facts. Look at the situation in Chile. But as correct information as possible to tourists is important for all EU countries. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Forza FC :
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Gregers det er dejligt at kunne slå op på denne side dagligt og følge med i hvad der sker i bangkok. Vi har familie og bekendte i byen.
Tak for det
Du og dine medarbejdere ønskes et godt nytår fra kolde
PS Hils Morten. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Rolf Bodh :
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Hej Gregers!
Mycket detaljerad och balanserad information - och snabbt! Jag haller med Toni i att man vid den har tidpunkten omojligt kan lagga ansvaret hos nagon organisation. Forsok att anvanda bomberna for politiska syften far vi sakert se aven hos dem som inte var med och placerade ut sprangladdningarna.
Bomberna hindrar mig dock inte att sa snart det ar mojligt ater besoka Thailand.
Rolf Bodh, KL, Stockholm just nu. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Frank Hansen :
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Hej Gregers
Tak for hyggeligt samvær i april og din hjælp. Undskyld for at anvende denne triste lejlighed til at få dig svaret, men jeg følte trang til at påskønne din hurtige og meget detaljerede rapportering om bomberne, samt dine analyser, som kun kan gøres af een, som kender Thailand under huden. Da vi hørte de første sparsomme informationer i DK TV, skiftede jeg hurtigt til CNN og åbnede derefter min mail for at se Scanmail. Mine forventninger blev da heller ikke skuffede.
Alt vel her. Håber det samme hos jer? Venlig hilsen. Hjørdis & Frank |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Joachim Haller :
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Tack för en saklig och lättläst sammanställning. Det smärtar mig att terror nu även gjort sin entré i Bangkok. Det känns dock som bästa botemedlet är att vara på sin vakt, vara informerad, undvika panik och ta vara på allt gott som fortfarande finns. Lögnen hinner ju som bekant runt halva världen innan sanningen fått på sig tofflorna.
Stort tack igen
//Joachim Haller |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Staffan Bodemar :
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Very good!
Maybe you should consider adding something about events outside Bangkok. I have only followed events very sporadically, but I noted that there was a bomb outside a mosque here in Chiang Mai, where I now live. I believe this bomb was the following day, and apparently this has been well publicised abroad.
I don't know if any link has been established between the bombs in Bangkok and the one in Chiang Mai, nor do I know about events elsewhere in Thailand.
Staffan Bodemar |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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Gregers Moller :
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Dear All,
Thank you for your encouragement. You are indeed a great audience and it is a privilege to serve you!
As the mainstream media is now following the case closely and brimming with details, I thought I would drop the coverage here. There is - at this point at least - no specific Scandinavian angle to the incident.
Except maybe adding the detail that PULO, the Patani Liberation Movement, whose leadership is living in Sweden, has issued a statement where they categorically deny any involvement in the bombings. |
| Posted Date: 2007-03-13 21:15:30 |
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