Deadly Explosion Hits Central Bangkok Monday Aug 17,2015

 

A bomb on a motorcycle exploded on Monday Aug 17,2015 just outside a Hindu shrine in Bangkok, killing at least 15 people, the government said. 

The explosion took place at the Rajprasong intersection, in front of the Erawan Shrine.

The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres and offices, is a major tourist attraction, especially for visitors from East Asia

The explosion at a central Bangkok popular shrine in next to one of the city’s busiest intersections went off around 7 p.m. (8.30 p.m. IST), as the upscale area was filled with tourists, office workers and shoppers

At least two bombs were found at the scene, said Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta. He said at least one had detonated.

The first bomb was found inside the shrine compound, while the second was found opposite the complex

Thai PBS television said at least 15 people were killed. Weerachon said that some foreigners were among the many injured. 

The blast occurred during the evening rush hour a the Rajprasong intersection, which was the center of many contentious political demonstrations in recent years.

It appears to have occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark also popular with Thais.

There is a huge amount of chaos with body parts scattered everywhere and a crater that does indicate a bomb attack
 
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Thai forces are fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the predominantly Buddhist country's south, although those rebels have rarely launched attacks outside their ethnic Malay heartland

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha 

“We haven’t concluded who did this, but they definitely are bad people,” he told journalists before a Tuesday morning Cabinet meeting. “No matter what their intentions are, they took lives of innocent people.”

“This is the worst incident that has ever happened in Thailand,” he said. “There have been minor bombs or just noise, but this time they aim for innocent lives. They want to destroy our economy, our tourism.”

“I have seen the footage, we have some suspects but it is not so clear. We have to find them first.” 

promised to “hurry and find the bombers”.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister  Prawit Wongsuwan says investigators are getting closer to determining who set off the bomb

“It is much clearer who the bombers are, but I can’t reveal right now,”  “We have suspects. There are not many people.”  Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also the country’s Defence Minister, said on Tuesday Aug 18,2015

Police and soldiers are guarding the site of Monday’s devastating central Bangkok explosion and combing through shattered glass and other debris.

Police tape surrounded the scene at Erawan shrine on Tuesday morning, and onlookers stood it to take pictures. Barricades are set up outside five-star hotels in the neighbourhood and security officials are stopping cars to inspect trunks before letting them pass

'The yellow shirt guy IS the Bangkok bomber' say police

Thai police Tuesday Aug 18,2015 confirmed that a man seen in CCTV wearing a yellow T-shirt and carrying a backpack was the bomber who killed at least 22 people at a Bangkok shrine.

Chilling footage shows the bespectacled terrorist calmly placing the bag on a bench next to the Erawan Shrine minutes before the blast ripped through a crowd of worshippers. 

'The yellow shirt guy is not just the suspect. He is the bomber,' Police Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said.