At Least 10 Injured In Explosion In Front Of Big C Rajdamri

[george]

Several injured in explosion in front of Big C Rajdamri

BANGKOK: -- Eight people were injured when a bomb exploded in front of Big C Rajdamri at 5:51 pm.

Two of them are women. Six of them were severely injured

Police closed traffic on Rajdamri on the side of Big C while rescue workers rushed in to help the injured people and transported them to Hua Chiew Hospital and Police Hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-07-25

[george]

MCOT: Ten people wounded in bombing at bus stop outside Big C, Ratchadamri; all injured rushed to Chulalongkorn Hospital

[george]

Updated: 9 people injured in Big C Rajdamri explosion

Police have identified nine people injured in the bomb explosion in front of Big C Rajdamri Sunday evening.

Thawatchai Thongmak, 51, was severely injured and rushed to the Police Hospital.

The eight others were identified as Sompatchara Tangsiriphanit, 46, Somchai Iampracha, 37, Somjai Phanwima, 37, Chanu (surname unknown), 24, Puan Pornnithet, 37, and Wirasak Saetae, 40.

Weerasak is a bus driver.

They were injured with bomb shrapnel over their face and body.

-- The Nation 2010-07-25

[george]

Suspected bomb blast injures nine at Bangkok bus stop

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) - A suspected bomb blast ripped through a bus stop in central Bangkok Sunday, leaving at least nine people injured and reigniting tensions two months after the end of deadly opposition protests.

The explosion came hours after polls closed in a closely watched by-election in the capital pitting a leader of the "Red Shirt" anti-government movement against a member of the elite-backed ruling party.

The blast occurred at a bus stop in front of a Big C Ratchadamri supermarket, in the same central shopping district occupied by the Reds during their mass rally which ended in May, Police Colonel Saravut Jindatham told AFP.

The area was sealed off by police and a bomb squad was seen inspecting the site, according to an AFP photographer.

Saravut he was waiting for forensics to determine the cause of the blast, which Thai media reports had been caused by a bomb hidden in a plastic bag.

The explosion shattered an uneasy calm that has returned to the capital since the military crushed the Red Shirts' two-month-long mass protests in May.

Thai society remains deeply divided following the political violence, in which 90 people died and about 1,900 were injured in a series of street clashes between armed troops and demonstrators, as well as numerous grenade blasts.

About one fifth of the country, including Bangkok, remains under a state of emergency which bans public gatherings of more than five people and give security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge.

The protests by the Reds -- many of whom back fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections, but most of the leaders are now behind bars.

Sunday's blast came hours after polls closed in a by-election in a suburb of the capital seen by many as a referendum on the authorities' handling of the crisis.

A Red Shirt leader, Kokaew Pikulthong, who is in prison on terrorism charges, appeared to be heading for defeat with 40.93 percent of the votes, according to exit polls.

Ruling Democrat Party candidate Panich Vikitsreth looked set to clinch victory with 52.77 percent, according to exit polls by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University.

Kokaew, a candidate for the opposition Puea Thai (For Thais) party -- who has not been convicted of any crime -- was denied a request to be released to campaign.

The vote was considered a litmus test of public opinion as it was the first poll since the Red Shirt protests ended in bloodshed.

The Reds, who hail Thaksin's policies for the poor, view the current government as elitist and undemocratic because it came to power after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-25

[philw]

My heart is bleeding for Thailand.

This is terrible news and omens very badly for the future.

Hope for speedy and full recovery for all injured.

Very sad.

philw

[rubl]

My sympathy and wishes for speedy recovery to the wounded.

To early to say who did this (although that doesn't stop most posters ),

but this seriously effects the lifting of the E.D. I think. Interesting is that the PTP just announced a few days ago to start participating on the PM's roadmap if the E.D. was lifted first. No participation now I guess

[tonywebster]

i wonder who planted it, the government to justify the continued emergency decree, the reds or the yellows, or southern insurgents (terrorists). My money is on the fist one.

[Jingthing]

It's too early to say for certain who did it. But after the burning of Bangkok, you've got know what most everybody will think.

[tonywebster]

well the burning of Bangkok has not been solved yet, we all saw how wrong people could be with the missing weapons, rockets launched, poo thrown over wall etc. but yes, people will speculate, I already have, The government are trying to justify the emergency decree.

[Jingthing]

The smart money is on the reds. We all hope it won't escalate further but hope and 100 baht will get you a coffee at Starbucks.

[craigt3365]

well the burning of Bangkok has not been solved yet, we all saw how wrong people could be with the missing weapons, rockets launched, poo thrown over wall etc. but yes, people will speculate, I already have, The government are trying to justify the emergency decree.

Your kidding, right? I surely hope so...

[TAWP]

Predictable that Tony would point fingers at the government and claim they would bomb their own when no evidence has never ever been presented that they have done it sofar during this mandate period.

We do however know that 'the Red Shirt in jail hoping to become an MP' lost today...and democracy has never been the red shirts strong side.

[Tokay]

I have a bad feeling there will be a lot of attacks like these in the future.

[Jimi007]

My sympathy and wishes for speedy recovery to the wounded.

To early to say who did this (although that doesn't stop most posters ),

but this seriously effects the lifting of the E.D. I think. Interesting is that the PTP just announced a few days ago to start participating on the PM's roadmap if the E.D. was lifted first. No participation now I guess

That was my first thought! So much for for lifting the Emergency Decree...

[Asianrider]

Again Thailand will make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

[Crushdepth]

I hope the bomber drops dead. A plague on you, scum.

[anon467367354]

it's the work of cowards that do these things. I sure hope the injured recover quickly and the people responsible are dealt with properly.

[MacWalen]

Oh dear, not again.

[MB1]

Nice to see nothing changes, fingers pointing at who's to blame already...

[Vertigotogo]

Awful news. Best wishes for speedy recovery for all that were harmed.

[Jingthing]

I hope the bomber drops dead. A plague on you, scum.

Hey, that's an incendiary comment that most of us would agree with, whatever color the bombers were, but let's face, they were reds.

[Jingthing]

Nice to see nothing changes, fingers pointing at who's to blame already...

What do you expect with the red track record? The government hasn't labeled some of their leaders terrorists for nothing.

Edited July 25, 2010 by Jingthing

[Valdezugar]

This is going to hurt Thailand again.

[7by7]

Speculation on the identity of those responsible is unhelpful and merely exposes the prejudices of those doing the speculation.

I'm sure that whoever is responsible will announce themselves in due course.

[elcent]

I wish a speedy recovery for the injured and peace for their friends and relatives.

This act needs to be strongly condemned. Very sad and I hope the culprits will be brought to justice.

I don't know if anybody else got this feeling since yesterday, that the mood in Bangkok is changing. When I went to a big department-store it was then when I realized that this was not a common sight and not the usual crowd you'd normally see. Some hectic and nervous moves by undercover personal too. I think it was well known before the incidence of what would/could happen. I suspecvt that the culprits took cover with the harmless crowd. Very dangerous developement.

Edited July 25, 2010 by elcent

[MB1]

Nice to see nothing changes, fingers pointing at who's to blame already...

What do you expect with the red track record? The government hasn't labeled some of their leaders terrorists for nothing.

No intension of getting into a debate with you Jingthing, I'll leave you to turn it into the reds did it thread..

[Garry]

Awful news. Best wishes for speedy recovery for all that were harmed.

+1 Terrible news, hope there are no permanent injuries to the harmed

[Jaydillon]

HEAR WE GO AGAIN IT WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN

HOW SAD FOR THAILAND AND IT'S PEOPLE

[philo1]

Strange that Thaksin made a concilliatory speach just yesterday then this happens

[MB1]

Speculation on the identity of those responsible is unhelpful and merely exposes the prejudices of those doing the speculation.

I'm sure that whoever is responsible will announce themselves in due course.

And post of today IMO go's to a MOD....