Four grenade attacks damage Bangkok Bank branches

[webfact]

Democrat: Bank bombing cases in progress

BANGKOK: -- (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party has voiced confidence that police investigations will soon lead to arrests of persons responsible for grenade attacks at four branches of the Bangkok Bank.

Democrat Party Spokesperson, MD Buranaj Smutharaks, stated that the police have got some traces to the bomb hurlers, but he was unable to disclose further information about the suspects for the moment.

MD Buranaj then asked all sides with opinion differences to stop making movements that could trigger violence, for the sake of peace and happiness of all Thais.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senpong, stated that the government had prepared measures and security forces to prevent unexpected incidents after the verdict of the 76 billion THB asset seizure case of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As the situation had slipped through the control, he said the government had taken steps to prevent the situation from escalating for the safety of people.

Mr Thepthai also said it was likely that the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) would accuse the government or the military to incite such violence in order to blame the UDD or justify the necessity for a coup d’état. He then confirmed that both the government and the military were not involved with engineering of such incidents.

Five bombing incidents took place at four branches of the Bangkok Bank and one branch of Thanachart Bank on Saturday night. No casualties were reported.

-- NNT 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Moonrakers]

Who's responsible for selling these crappy grenades that don't go off?

Probably Communist China getting rid of some of the excess lead that is left over from putting in food for export.

Nope, it can't be China's fault. We can't criticise China.

Is must be those nasty farangs as they come from America.

[webfact]

Police issue more security measures after bombing incidents

BANGKOK: -- (TNA) -- Thai police on Sunday issued additional security measures including reinforcements from the three armed forces-- army, navy and air force to assist police following four bombing incidents in the capital of Bangkok and its neighbouring province of Samut Prakan, top police officers said.

In the latest development, police have received surveillance camera footage of bomb attackers at the Bangkok Bank, Silom branch.

Thailand's acting police chief Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert issued five more security measures to restore security nationwide after top cops met Sunday, according to Deputy Bangkok Police Chief Pol Maj-Gen Anan Srihiran.

The measures include tighter security for sensitive areas and prominent persons, close monitoring of persons with suspicious behaviour and of political activists, stern punishment of bombers, and more protection for Bangkok Bank branches countrywide, Gen Anan said.

Saturday’s bombing incidents targeting the Bangkok Bank headquarters, and three branches (two in Samut Prakan) province could be closely linked to a plan by anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) activists who will hold a major rally mid-March trying to bring down the government.

Involvement of a third party to create unrest cannot be ruled out, he said.

Gen Pateep, meanwhile, said the bombings were closely connected and the incidents were not likely to be the work of ordinary people.

No unusual movements from the UDD Red Shirts have so far been seen. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[tonywebster]

UPDATE

PM: Unnecessary to invoke special security law after Bangkok bombings

BANGKOK: -- (TNA) Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday

it is still unnecessary for the government to invoke the Internal Security Act following a series of bombings in the capital late Saturday.

Mr Abhisit told journalists after his weekly television and radio address that some groups of people will continue creating unrest in the country after Saturday's bombing incidents and that he had ordered the military to assist the police in setting up and manning more security checkpoints in the capital.

"The troublemakers are a small group of people who neither want democracy

nor justice, but only want to create chaos," he asserted. "They also have a hidden agenda.

"They want to create more divisiveness in society and (encourage) conflict between the government and political demonstrators."

The prime minister urged those who participated in political assemblies not to believe in the troublemakers and quarrel with the government.

Reiterating that it is still not necessary to invoke the Internal Security Act after Saturday's bombing incidents, Mr Abhisit said the bombers were from the same group of people.

He declined to say whether the bombings were linked to Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda who is also an honorary adviser of Bangkok Bank whose premises were targeted by bombs.

According to Mr Abhisit, four bombs were planted in the capital and its outskirts, with two exploded at Bangkok Bank facilities, causing damages

to glass doors and telephone booths. Two other bombs were defused. No

injuries were reported. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Even Abhisit has learned his lesson about throwing accusations at the red shirts after turdgate and has realised that other people could be in play here to tarnish the reds.

Now if only this common sense could rub off on Thavisa posters

[developer3d]

They have been around for donkey's years, and millions were left behind when the yanks lost their war in Nam.

Ah that should be the United States, South Korea, South Vietnam, France, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand - and before any statements of irrelevancy South Korea alone sent 320,000 soldiers to Vietnam.

Yes Australia's commitment peak at less than 8000 troops but we lost pretty good too : )

Edited February 28, 2010 by developer3d

[george]

Thailand tense following grenade attacks on main bank

Bangkok (Thailand), (ANI): -- Two grenades exploded outside branches of Thailand’s biggest bank - the Bangkok Bank — causing damage but no casualties.

The first blast hit a branch in the Silom business district, shattering windows and doors, while the second caused similar damage and also wrecked telephone booths in Samut Prakarn on the outskirts of the capital, police said.

Another two unexploded grenades were defused at Bangkok Bank branches at around the same time.

The blasts were apparently in response to a court verdict against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and have left the country tense.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has asked troops to provide extra security across the country following the attacks. However, he has held back on ordering enactment of harsh security laws.

Thailand’s Supreme Court on Friday confiscated 1.4 billion US dollars of Thaksin’s fortune for abuse of power while he was in office between 2001 and 2006.

He is now living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for graft.

-- Thaindian.com 2010-02-28

[tonywebster]

Why are they apparently in response to the Thaksin case? The Bangkok Bank issue is not in relation to the Thaksin case.

[tombkk]

Democrat: Bank bombing cases in progress

BANGKOK: -- (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party has voiced confidence that police investigations will soon lead to arrests of persons responsible for grenade attacks at four branches of the Bangkok Bank.

[snip]

Five bombing incidents took place at four branches of the Bangkok Bank and one branch of Thanachart Bank on Saturday night. No casualties were reported.

-- NNT 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Five bombings? First time I hear about Thanachart bank. Where? Why?

[Brewsta]

UPDATE

Police tighten security after bombings at Bangkok Bank headquarters, three branches

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA) -- Police tightened security in the capital after bombs exploded at the Bangkok Bank headquarters late Saturday and a Bangkok Bank branch in Phra Pradaeng early Sunday, while bombs at two other bank branches failed to function.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the bombings at four Bangkok Bank offices were not beyond expectation, explaining that he believed the attacks were intended to create turmoil.

Expressing his concerns over the political impact on the country's economic recovery, the prime minister said he had ordered security to be stepped up and for more police checkpoints in the capital, while calling for the public to help notifying the police regarding suspicious or unusual incidents.

The incidents came within earlier expectations after nine Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions judges on Friday ordered the confiscation of a predominant portion of the frozen assets of fugitive, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite tighter security at the homes of the nine judges and at sensitive locations in the capital, the first bombing took place Saturday night at Bangkok Bank's Silom Road headquarters. The bomb damaged glass doors and windows at the entrance of the bank building.

Another grenade was found shortly after at Bangkok Bank's Rama II branch in outer Bangkok. Police believe that the bombers wanted to create unrest in the country and that were explosives experts who could set charges to alarm the public without causing much actual damage.

The third and fourth bombings took place at Bangkok Bank's Phra Pradaeng branch in neighbouring Samut Prakan province, where a bomb shattered glass and the bank's ceiling, while the fourth bomb was at the bank's Srinakarind branch in eastern Bangkok, but it failed to detonate.

The fifth and last reported incident occurred before dawn Sunday near a Buddhist temple in Bangkok's Taling Chan district where a small bomb exploded with causing significant damage.

No casualties were reported in any of the five incidents.

Anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have charged repeatedly that Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda was behind a bloodless coup in September 2006 which toppled the elected government of Mr Thaksin. Gen Prem, a former prime minister, is now also an honorary adviser of Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest commercial bank.

Ten days ago, on February 19, the UDD rallied at Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

You require a 'source' to claim and 'demand change' to make this reporting even worth typing, n'est pas?

Bored Brewsta

[Publicus]

"Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government had predicted unrest after the court ruling on Thaksin's wealth."

This incredible precognitive insight is without peer and could only have been mastered by studying at the most prestigious Ivy League universites that England has to offer! I am so impressed!!!

Oh, please. What did you want him to say? We had no idea the verdict may upset some people?

Let's just say that this typifies the same skills as exhibited in the exceptional planning and execution of the 2009 ASEAN Summit in Pattaya last April. Oh wait, that one was overrun by a huge gang of protesters that not only forced the cancellation of the summit, but also required the immediate helicopter evacuation of all attending foreign summit members. Of course, even the Prime Minister, himself, was put directly in harm's way when his limo was attacked as he was attempting to leave the conference. There was almost no evidence of any security precautions whatsoever having been implemented as, amazingly, no threat to the summit nor its foreign dignitaries had been anticipated. Thailand has long been trying to live that fiasco down (among others) .

It's clear Abhisit and the government have learned from the past and are prepared for the worst but wisely are exercising caution and restraint as no emergency decrees are at any stage of serious discussion, nor is the ISA being waved around and about as freely as it has been in the past.

The situation actually is rather calm as of this post, especially considering the stakes involved. Thaksin got enuff of his loot back to take the steam out of the arguement that the courts or others are trying to destroy him or to devastate and decimate him. Thaksin is at least eligible to get back a sizable chunk of his loot. However, Thaksin's choice to become a fugitive from Thai justice can only complicate the matter for him.

If anyone is trying to provoke the government into an intemperate overreaction, they'd be failing at this point.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Publicus

[webfact]

Anti-government Red Shirts deny connection with bombings

BANGKOK: -- (TNA) -- Leaders of the anti-government Red Shirt movement, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said Sunday the group has no connection with the bomb incidents in the Thai capital and its neighbouring province of Samut Prakarn on Saturday.

They asked the government to probe both the military and police as the explosives used in the incidents were ordinarily only possessed by the armed forces and police.

Key UDD leader Natthawut Saikuea insisted that his group would continue its struggle against the government in a peaceful way, denouncing the bombers for creating unrest and deteriorating the overall situation in the country.

Mr. Natthawut said the incidents--in which no injuries were reported--would benefit the government as it could invoke the Internal Security Act by ordering the armed forces to control a major rally to be held by the UDD on March 14.

UDD leaders have announced earlier that the group would mobilise one million protesters nationwide and start gathering at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang on March 14 with an objective to oust the ruling government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr. Natthawut told a press conference Sunday that UDD supporters would start gathering in their provinces at noon on March 12 at various important places before arriving in Bangkok and congregate at Rajadamnoen Avenue early on March 14.

Another UDD key leader Jatuporn Prompan said explosives used on Saturday were used only by the military and border patrol police and that an investigation should be conducted of the national police chief and the army commander-in-chief.

Mr. Jatuporn said UDD movement had nothing to do with the incidents although supporters of the group had rallied at Bangkok Bank headquarters recently.

That rally was held with an intention to ask senior executives of the bank to show responsibility in illegally encroaching a land in a forest reserve in the eastern province of Chanthaburi and return it to the state, said Mr. Jatuporn. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-02-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Brewsta]

bored fingers and scurrilous verbage as usual - back to the bar boyz?

[Publicus]

So now are we to believe that where there is smoke there is not a fire? I don't believe it. IMO.

[webfact]

Grenade attacks raise tensions in Thailand

by Apilaporn Vechakij

BANGKOK: -- (AFP) - Thailand tightened security Sunday after two grenades exploded outside branches of the country's biggest bank in a suspected reaction to a court verdict against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Unidentified attackers fired four grenades at branches of Bangkok Bank late Saturday after judges confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of the fugitive tycoon's wealth the day before. Two of the grenades detonated, causing damage but no casualties.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had asked troops to help provide extra security across the country following the attacks, but was not enacting harsh security laws as the government had threatened.

"The bomb incidents were expected after the verdict. They are the actions of a small group of people who want to create unrest," Abhisit said in his weekly television broadcast.

He said police and soldiers were monitoring at checkpoints and that the government would install more closed-circuit television cameras.

"Our society is in a challenging situation right now," the premier added.

The attacks came just over a week after Thaksin's supporters, known as the "Red Shirts", surrounded Bangkok Bank's headquarters and forced it to close for the day.

They said the bank had links to chief royal adviser and former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda, whom they accuse of masterminding the 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin.

The first blast shattered the windows and doors of a branch in the Silom business district and the second caused similar damage and wrecked telephone booths in Samut Prakarn, on the outskirts of the capital.

Another two unexploded grenades were defused at other branches.

Police have boosted security at 14 branches of Bangkok Bank in the capital and at government offices and the homes of ministers and judges, acting city police chief General Pateep Tanprasert said after a security meeting.

His deputy Anand Srihirun told reporters the attackers had used M67 grenade launchers in all four incidents, adding: "It is believed that the suspects were from the same group, however we need to see more evidence."

Red Shirt spokesman Jatuporn Prompan denied any connection between his movement and the blasts, saying that the grenades were of a type commonly used by the army and police.

"What would we gain from it? We know that the government would like to create publicity and they tried to link it to us," Jatuporn told AFP.

The government had warned of possible unrest after the verdict. Thailand's bitter political divide in the four years since the coup has been reflected in a number of violent incidents.

The Red Shirts have said they will hold a mass rally in Bangkok in mid-March, although they have promised that their campaign against Abhisit's government will be non-violent.

Thaksin on Saturday rejected calls from the ruling party to leave the political stage, saying he would "not chicken out", and dismissed its claims that a compromise had been struck with the return of a portion of his funds.

The Supreme Court seized the money -- about 60 percent of the 2.3 billion dollars in funds belonging to Thaksin's family that were frozen after the coup -- after finding that Thaksin had abused his power while in office.

He is currently living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for graft.

The Red Shirts, largely from Thaksin's stronghold in the nation's poor north and northeast, loved his populist policies and accuse Abhisit's government of ignoring their plight since he took power in December 2008.

The tycoon's opponents accuse Thaksin of being corrupt, dictatorial and of threatening Thailand's widely revered monarchy.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 82, who is regarded as a stabilising figure by many Thais, returned early Sunday to the hospital where he has spent the past five months after a brief outing to his palace for a private function, police said.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-02-28

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[hansnl]

I can understand there being a debate about the acts being terrorism or not. The level of terrorism has escalated tremendously in recent years, after all. I can understand how a criminal definition is difficult too, as one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Never a sane man's freedom fighter though, as we all know. All of us at Thaivisa condemn these kinds of acts and I'm sure we are unified in that and appreciate the Thai governments plea for calm.

But the spam and propaganda about some global warming denier agenda is as embarrassing as it is off-topic, as a Thaivisa member. I hope the world does not read that and think we're all of that mind.

Who is a terrorist?

Anyone doing things against other people in an indiscriminating way to incite terror.

[notime]

The big question arises:

"Why are all these attacks, executed by either complete idiots, beginners, handicapped and so stuporous ragged that there is either a complete failure or very little damage?"

By now there is an long row of these "bomb-Attacks" starting with the .... Thai-Airways Jet incident which was waiting for whom and why was this person "late" this particular day?

Questions, so many questions - while only a teargas containers killed a PAD protester and injured others really badly!

..so many questions...!

Why? I think it's rather simple. Somebody takes money to do these dirty jobs but doesn't really belive in the cause so does it TRYING not to kill anybody especially that that would bring bad karma and perhaps a long jail term onto themselves if unlucky. Thais are masters in taking money for doing jobs that don't stuck up .. in my experience, anyway.

[neverdie]

The grenades are not necessarily Thai Army sourced. They have been around for donkey's years, and millions were left behind when the yanks lost their war in Nam. I'm sure they could be purchased for a quite reasonable price. Over the years since, corrosion of the detonator and deterioration of the explosive charge could be the cause of the 2 misfires, and a 50% failure rate is certainly not acceptable in issued weapons.

they are definitely not large firecrackers! the lethal component is a coil of flat wire designed to fragment into pieces about half an inch long. these will penetrate the body but don't have the mass to travel too far, though the lethal range is further than you can throw one -ain't that a nice thought!

hollywood BS is responsible for the expectation of huge explosions with flames, and bodies flying through the air.

I did like the comment that use of them in a public place is despicable. I fully agree. To qualify it by saying that it's a good way to point out companies whose political leanings you don't like is equally despicable.

From an old retired Army guy, the kill radius is 5 meters, the casualty radius is 15 meters, and as old as I am and drunk to boot, I can still send it30 meters. just clarifying

My favourite post , thanks for the info steve.

Edited February 28, 2010 by neverdie

[dieter1]

ter·ror·ism

–noun

1.

the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

Of course the ruling governments in the last 40 years (leaded by the US ) were able to convince the vast majority of the public to believe.

- That "terrorism" is the evil acting of some evil persons against the legitimate governments and the worst enemy for normal people. For example: "We (the government of the USA ) are the good-ones. They (the terrorists) are the bad guys. They want to kill every innocent child, woman, brave christian bla bla bla..... . So we must use all (!!) kinds of possible methods (incl. war, torture, killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent people .... incl. illegal methods, not respecting the rights, given by the constitution ...) and all of your money (tax! more tax!) to fight these evil people."

Fact: the original definition means a kind of acting of a government . exactly it was used to difame the first non-royal (republic) in Europe (1. French revolution)

The use in this circumstance was already difamation and a lie because the number of death, be ordered by this government is laughable in contrast to the number of death normal governments "produced" by using "normal" kinds of methods (wars). The number of people who got killed by the government of Robespierre (in the 1. French revolution, "guillotine") was in the hundreds. Just to give another number: When the "Commune" in Paris was ended with the help of Preussen´s troops in 1871 (72?), the number of slaughtered people were in the ten-thousands. Not killed in fighting.! Just slaughtered after (!) they were already defeated.

The number of people who got killed by the the so called "terrorists" in the last 20 years is just a joke compared to the number of people killed by "legal" governments. Just think about the thousands of mostly innocent (in fact everyone, cause there was not a single trial) people who got killed in the so called "war against drugs" under the famous government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Think about the US-war against Iraq. About 1 million were killed in the circumstances of this war. ( a war for which they gave total faked reasons!)

It is a very hard fact, that if you consider the numbers of people who got killed willingly by the hands of human beings, you would find, that the majority of these people got killed by the "legal" (meaning: dominating group with most power in a special area) governments, killed by the states - in wars, in genocides or in the circumstances of fighting against Enemies inside the states . If you would count them, you would get numbers of many hundreds of millions in the history, mostly the last 100 years.

Back to the "definition":

"the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes."

If you would read carefully and start thinking about this definition you would (should) understand, that using this definition you could accurately call most states in the world "terrorists states".

cause most of the states (governments) use "violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes".

Edited February 28, 2010 by webfact
link error removed

[elcent]

I believe that the red shirts are not behind the attacks, because the coup in 2006 has triggered the renaissance of repeating coups for the future. The question is not if but when. I doubt that the army will give back the country to the people by rolling back to the 1997 constitution. A failed state is easily possible in the near future.

[tracer5050]

monitoring at checkpoints soon you will not be able to carry packages on the sky train or subway.They may really start to look in the packages.

[elcent]

there's only one chance and that is to proceed with the crime of PAD in a speedy manner. Holding a nation hostage, as PAD did and still doing it by using proxies will lead to big, big troubles. One wonders why the law isn't applied on those untouchables? They need to face the same music as Thaksin does ASAP.

Edited February 28, 2010 by elcent

[WISteve]

"Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government had predicted unrest after the court ruling on Thaksin's wealth."

This incredible precognitive insight is without peer and could only have been mastered by studying at the most prestigious Ivy League universites that England has to offer! I am so impressed!!!

Amazing ability to predict the future I'm thinking! If there isn't any violence after the decision maybe breaking some glass and positioning some soldiers at the MRT entrances will make us look "in charge of the situation" for the evening news?

I wish only peace and a fairly elected government for the Thai people. They seem to have neither at the moment.

[RegularReader]

"Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government had predicted unrest after the court ruling on Thaksin's wealth."

This incredible precognitive insight is without peer and could only have been mastered by studying at the most prestigious Ivy League universites that England has to offer! I am so impressed!!!

Amazing ability to predict the future I'm thinking! If there isn't any violence after the decision maybe breaking some glass and positioning some soldiers at the MRT entrances will make us look "in charge of the situation" for the evening news?

I wish only peace and a fairly elected government for the Thai people. They seem to have neither at the moment.

Well, you're not gonna get it, if the Red Leaders and a returned Thaksin get their way...

[robert00]

Its another happy new Red dawn courtesy of The People revolution rising for The People, the People's revolution party speaking for The People etc. hoo~ray.

Shame about the innocent bystanders who always end up getting blown to bits eventually, but I suppose they are not The People, just 'some people' or 'remains of people'. Nurses and doctors and gravediggers are people too, and they get more work thanks to The People Party. Hiphip for the Reds.

I don't care what anybody says,my opinion: Thaksin is a monster because he stirs up embers & tries to create infernos. I think he should have $0 & life in jail. That People Power for the rural poor thing is BS, there's urban poor too & they get bombed because that clown Thaksin has turned disagreements into bombs, and turned people on their friends.

I think before you point a finger at Taksin, you should look around and see what he did for the people mainly in the north and northeast, no matter what bad he did, the fact is he has done more for Thailand than any previous Priminister and that is the reason why so many people stand behind him.

[elcent]

Thaksin has had enough time to turn things around, but seeing his reaction to the court's decision makes him look what he really is, a greedy monster. He prefers to hide under alien Burkas instead to proof his quality as a leader.

Imagine sheep without a shepherd. In this case, sheep long gone.

The elites' denial of new realities and the red shirts' movement will bring much frustration to them.

[RegularReader]

Its another happy new Red dawn courtesy of The People revolution rising for The People, the People's revolution party speaking for The People etc. hoo~ray.

Shame about the innocent bystanders who always end up getting blown to bits eventually, but I suppose they are not The People, just 'some people' or 'remains of people'. Nurses and doctors and gravediggers are people too, and they get more work thanks to The People Party. Hiphip for the Reds.

I don't care what anybody says,my opinion: Thaksin is a monster because he stirs up embers & tries to create infernos. I think he should have $0 & life in jail. That People Power for the rural poor thing is BS, there's urban poor too & they get bombed because that clown Thaksin has turned disagreements into bombs, and turned people on their friends.

I think before you point a finger at Taksin, you should look around and see what he did for the people mainly in the north and northeast, no matter what bad he did, the fact is he has done more for Thailand than any previous Priminister and that is the reason why so many people stand behind him.

Who taught you to type ?

Pity they didn't teach you how to spell the name of your "hero".

The person you refer to "TAKSIN" was a King...or is that who you meant ??

[webfact]

Further use of extreme large fonts or the use of unnecessary colors

will result in the immediate deletion of such post

[Lockstock]

I was standing around 30 m across the road in Silom when this happened.

It was really loud sound.. just a single time. no smoke or fire seen.

We walked closer to see what was it... all we saw from across the road (that is opposite bangkok bank).. a shattered glass of telephone booth.. a pink taxi in front with some minor damage... and about 3 lebanese guys (or may be more like italian to me) running up and down and taking photographs.. .later i was told those lebanese guys were owners of a restaurant in that area... and they got famous for assisting police in getting caught of bike robbers (in earlier times).. and so they acted like heros and took control of the situation.

no police in sight for a long time... only say about 30-45 minutes.. a first cop arrived on scene.

and then for the next few hours... that side of the road was blocked from mahesak road junction.

and we had no idea what caused it up until i see the news in website.

So let me get this right. An explosion goes of which shatters glass etc, the area is not yet secured and you walk TOWARDS it!. You walk TOWARDS, not AWAY, from a bomb attack.

Have you ever heard of the Darwin awards?

I wondered if anyone else picked up on that Darwin awards.....love the comparision

I know that these guys arent very good at what they do, whatever colour t shirts they are wearing, but it is only a matter of time before they pick up on the effectivness of 'secondary devices'. Made Northern Ireland an interesting place to be when I served her majesty

[CLOD]

Well, seeing as sutheps inciting claim, that there would be reds violence 11-26 february didnt come true, who has to save face on this one?

Begins with s , no not Surayad, he was the land thief.

[zank]

Can somebody who actually knows the area and what actually occurred confirm one thing.

There are two major branches on Silom Rd, in the Silom area.

(1) The Headquarters on the Southern side of Silom Rd down towards Sala Daeng BTS station... between Soi Convent and Narathiwat Rd; about Silom Soi 3 or 5.

the other

(2) On the Northern side of Silom Rd... a bit further opposite Wat Khaek close to Silom Soi 24 or 26.

I'm overseas at the moment - but my wife is staying close to the latter of the above.

Which one copped the grenade? As there is mixed reports in the press.

Thanks in advance.

Zank