Blasts Rattle Bangkok As Israel Accuses Iran

[MikeOboe57]

Why the few days detour for all 3 of them in Pattaya?

So they would later know what to do with the 72 virgins, and not just put sacks over their heads and lock them in a room.

[keemapoot]

Just watched channel 3's very short coverage of the bombing story. Surayut speculated that the bomber may have been attempting to get a taxi to the Israel embassy, but the rest of the story just focused on the event itself, without any speculating on terror elements or not. I suspect the (red-shirt-leaning) channel may have been instructed to play this bombing down so as not to cast aspersions on the current government.

[necronx99]

Why the few days detour for all 3 of them in Pattaya?

So they can pick up all their explosives in Soi Beirut?

[webfact]

BANGKOK'S TRIPLE BLASTS

Americans alerted to maintain heightened awareness

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The US Embassy in Thailand issued a statement, alerting its citizens to maintain a heightened awareness when in public following a series of explosions in Bangkok on Tuesday.

"Be alert for unattended packages/bags in public and report any suspicious behavior to the nearest law enforcement personnel," according to statement in its website.

The Americans are urged to to regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website, where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.

We encourage you notify us of your presence in Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

-- The Nation 2012-02-15

[siampolee]

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thanee Thongphakdee said an official conclusion on the incidents would be made soon to determine the specific nature of the crimes. "Don't jump to the conclusion that it was an act of terrorism," he said.

Blatantly obvious to all of us that the place was in fact an illegal factory manufacturing fireworks for the upcoming Songkran celebrations.

Safety precautions were somewhat lax, hence the unfortunate explosion and the resultant explosive devices flying around prior to exploding.

No terrorist or terrorism here in Thailand is there ?

Edited February 15, 2012 by siampolee

[kawaiimomo]

I wonder if we all read the same news. Many posters talking about a terrorist attack, targeting civilians, etc

To me this is just a future operation that went wrong for them as one of the bombs suddenly exploded in the house, next one of the men losing his temper and attacking the taxi and the police.

The important thing here is to know where, how and from whom they obtained the C4 and grenades. It is unlikely they brought them from outside Thailand via airplane. It is scary that these kinds of explosives can be so easily obtained.

Anyway, police giving contradictory reports and saying this is going to be treated as a normal crime is unreal.

For the poster saying it is ok to murder Iranian scientists for making illegal nuclear weapons -> LOL. Israel calls itself the democratic and westernized country in the middle east. Any country that aspires to be like that just cannot kill foreign civilians or scientists. Also, in the case Iran is developing nuclear weapons they are in their right to do so. What a double standards that US, Israel, etc can have this kind of shit but Iran cannot.

BTW, Israel just say this is backed from Iran government with not a single proof. To me it looks like a bunch of amateurs who cannot even manipulate an explosive without detonating it on the house. So newbies that ones gets mad because no taxi would pick him up and he throws a second explosive. So noob he tries to blast police car and he blows his own legs. Fully amateurish

[webfact]

Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens: Explosions in the vicinity of Sukhumvit Soi 71 Bangkok

February 14, 2012

This message alerts U.S. citizens in Thailand that a series of explosions occurred in the vicinity of Sukhumvit Soi 71 in Bangkok on the afternoon of February 14. Thai police are on the scene investigating.

As a reminder we encourage U.S. citizens to maintain a heightened awareness when in public. Be alert for unattended packages/bags in public and report any suspicious behavior to the nearest law enforcement personnel.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing [email protected]. The Embassy’s after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000. The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at [email protected]. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

For the latest information, you should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website, where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found. You can also obtain up-to-date information on security by calling 1-888-407-4747 (toll free) in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

We encourage you notify us of your presence in Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Source: http://bangkok.usemb...ncymessage.html

[Ulysses G.]

Israel calls itself the democratic and westernized country in the middle east. Any country that aspires to be like that just cannot kill foreign civilians or scientists. Also, in the case Iran is developing nuclear weapons they are in their right to do so. What a double standards that US, Israel, etc can have this kind of shit but Iran cannot.

Wrong. They are not "in their right to do so". Iran is the only one of these countries that signed a treaty that they WOULD NOT develop nuclear weapons and they are lying about doing so and therefore need to be stopped. There are no double standards - just some enablers trying to spin it that way.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Ulysses G.

[steffi]

If you look middle eastern it's going to be a bitch catching a taxi now.

[geriatrickid]

These men arrived in Phuket from Malaysia on Feb. 8. They then:

1. came to Bangkok

2. were able to obtain bomb-making materials

3. visit Pattaya for 3 days

4. rent a house in Bangkok for 3 days or so

5. make their bombs

6. then try to use their bombs on Feb. 14.

I reckon they had help in Thailand as, at least to this reader, 6 days seems like a VERY short period of time to do all that they did...

Help as in assistance from the Iranian government agents already in position?

[jambco984]

But the Thai government assured us all that the terror warnings were not right ???????????????????

Can anybody trust them again ???

Don't you see they are still defending the random and normal activities of these foreign holiday makers?????

NOT TERRORISTS

Please come to Thailand. Please.....

[kawaiimomo]

Israel calls itself the democratic and westernized country in the middle east. Any country that aspires to be like that just cannot kill foreign civilians or scientists. Also, in the case Iran is developing nuclear weapons they are in their right to do so. What a double standards that US, Israel, etc can have this kind of shit but Iran cannot.

Wrong. They are not "in their right to do so". Iran is the only one of these countries that signed a treaty that they WOULD NOT develop nuclear weapons and they are lying about doing so and therefore need to be stopped. There are no double standards - just some enablers trying to spin it that way.

I was not aware of that. Anyway Iran has stated several times that they are not developing any weapon, just civilian use.

[Ulysses G.]

Guess what, they are LYING.

[warfie]

"Not terrorism, just a normal crime"

Suggesting, to my mind, that it happens all the time...

I feel so much better...

[bendejo]

Ok, so these bombs had nothing to do with terrorism, right?

They were just everyday, household bombs, strictly for personal use.

You know, like for dynamite fishing in the klongs.

Have another drink.

Edited February 15, 2012 by bendejo

[z12]

And these clowns want nukes. Be afraid, be very afraid.

[z12]

Happy Bloody Valentines Day Thailand.

When you think you can make friends with terrorists, this is what you can expect.

More crimes against humanity from this group.

I hope the tea money was worth it.

Eventually they will come for you as well.

Edited February 15, 2012 by z12

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The news report above from the Jerusalem Post talking about Thai defense officials saying the targets of the bombers were Israeli interests in BKK is pretty thinly sourced...

A one pgh reference...and no backup or elaboration.... Not much of substance there. It's probably true, nonetheless, whether Thai defense officials really said so or not.

Thai defense officials said the Iranian citizens responsible for explosions in Thailand on Tuesday intended to attack Israeli targets, Army Radio reported.

Edited February 15, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Ulysses G.]

Stop buying into all the crap people and start looking at the big picture here....

The big picture is that a bomb factory blew up and they have Iranian passports and Iranian currency.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Nothing new here...but just posting for the record.

Interesting to see the Thai government report this the morning after:

UK-US warnings issued after 3 Bangkok explosions

BANGKOK, 15 February 2012 (NNT) - The governments of the United States and Great Britain have issued warnings for their citizens against traveling in Thailand, after 5 were injured in Bangkok explosions yesterday.

The British government, on Tuesday, has asked its people to be cautious while traveling in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

The warning stated that there is a high risk of terror attacks in these provinces following 3 blasts in the Thai capital earlier in the day.

British nationals living in Thailand have also been suggested to closely monitor news while following all advices from the Thai government.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Bangkok has posted alert messages on its website, asking US nationals in the country to maintain a heightened awareness when in public and to report any suspicious behavior to the nearest law enforcement personnel.

The alerts also encouraged American citizens to regularly monitor the State Department's cautions and travel warnings.

http://thainews.prd....id=255502150004

Edited February 15, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[webfact]

Sukumpol rules out three explosions as terror attacks

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat on Wednesday tried to allay anxiety over the Tuesday's triple explosions in Bangkok, saying the blasts should not be construed as terror attacks.

"In my personal view, the bad men were trying to assemble bombs which led to the explosions," he said.

Sukumpol said police had already taken custody of two Iranian bomber suspects. Another suspect remains at large after fleeing a rented house on Soi Predi Banomyong 31 off Sukhumvit 71.

The National Security Council has convened a meeting on the explosions before holding a press conference later today.

US and Israeli authorities have voiced suspicion about the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah to target against Israeli nationals.

-- The Nation 2012-02-15

[Payboy]

the bad men were trying to assemble bombs

Not terrorists.

[maeab]

Why the few days detour for all 3 of them in Pattaya?

They were unwinding before bomb rampage, Doing a little heroin and ice, just kicking back locked in there room for a few days.

[webfact]

Police set up 'war room' to probe Bangkok bomb blasts

BANGKOK, Feb 15 – Thailand’s National Police Bureau has set up a 'war room' at the Khlong Ton police station to probe three Bangkok bomb incidents and a team of investigators will return to inspect the scene again, collect additional evidence, and more deeply probe the case.

Meanwhile, the police have released a surveillance photograph of the third suspect who is still at large.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat has convened a meeting of investigators today at Khlong Ton police station, now being used as a 'war room' on the case, to review the evidence and consider information on the suspects.

Three suspects, all men, were reported to have fled a rented house in Sukhumvit 71’s Soi Pridi Panomyong 31 where the first bomb exploded, blowing the roof off the building.

One, an Iranian national identified as Saeid Moradi, was seriously injured by his own hand grenade when confronted by police officers and tried to hurl the grenade at them. The explosion tore off one leg while the other leg, seriously mangled, was amputated while he underwent emergency surgery in hospital.

The suspect was in surgery for ten hours to save his life. The patient is now in stable condition and will later be moved to intensive care.

The second bombing suspect, an Iranian identified as Mohammad Hazaei, was taken into custody at Suvarnabhumi Airport while attempting to board a plane to Malaysia, and has been transferred by police for further questioning at Khlong Tan station.

Police showed closed circuit TV surveillance images of a third suspect captured on CCTV. Still at large, he is being actively sought by the authorities.

The investigators are at the scene of the incidents this morning seeking more evidence after responding police found and defused two C-4 explosives during the search on Tuesday. The explosive devices were made of several kilos (three or four pounds) of C-4 plastic explosive built inside combination flashlight (torch)-emergency radios.

National Police Chief Pol Gen Prewpan Dhamapong said the bombs installed with magnets and could be stuck on vehicles, underneath the chassis. He said he believed the bombs were intended to target particular persons, not places.

Meanwhile, the United States late Tuesday (Bangkok time) condemned the blasts in Thailand.

French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland as saying that "We obviously condemn this attack. We seem to have an uptick in this kind of violence. We're concerned about it. Some of these have been linked to Iran.”

Ms Nuland said Washington was awaiting the results of investigations into the attacks in Thailand as well as attacks Monday in India and Georgia, but noted previous attacks linked to Iran and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-15

[laurentbkk]

Miracle for Thailand ..

[laurentbkk]

where the hell they got few KG of C4 explosive .... police should also look for local people who probably helped , southern muslim perhaps as they are bombing the south for the last decade. .. Hope they will get the third guy soon

[erobando]

Israel calls itself the democratic and westernized country in the middle east. Any country that aspires to be like that just cannot kill foreign civilians or scientists. Also, in the case Iran is developing nuclear weapons they are in their right to do so. What a double standards that US, Israel, etc can have this kind of shit but Iran cannot.

Wrong. They are not "in their right to do so". Iran is the only one of these countries that signed a treaty that they WOULD NOT develop nuclear weapons and they are lying about doing so and therefore need to be stopped. There are no double standards - just some enablers trying to spin it that way.

Exactly.

The Israeli secret police has every right to judge whether or not Iran's nuclear program is for civilian or military purposes.

And they even have a greater right to then execute scientists who they believe are involved in such program.

[rubl]

Implausible denial.

Thitima denied the incidents were acts of terrorism, saying: "This is not sabotage or related to the travel advisories issued [after last month's terrorism scare] by many countries. Police now know where the [suspect is].

"Intelligence analysis said [the suspects] were arguing with one another, and the incidents are being treated as normal crimes."

are they for real?

A touch of Thaksin speak

"In 2002, Shinawatra stated, "There's no separatism, no ideological terrorists, just common bandits.""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Thailand_insurgency

[rubl]

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat on Wednesday tried to allay anxiety over the Tuesday's triple explosions in Bangkok, saying the blasts should not be construed as terror attacks.

"In my personal view, the bad men were trying to assemble bombs which led to the explosions," he said.

Those naughty boys deserve a slap on their naughty fingers and should promise not to do such a naughty thing again.

[webfact]

Thai blasts linked to 'international tensions'

BANGKOK, February 15, 2012 (AFP) - A series of blasts in Bangkok that seriously wounded a suspected Iranian bomber are linked to global political tensions, a Thai official said Wednesday, after Israel accused Tehran of involvement.

"Yesterday's incident was caused by current international tensions in world politics," National Security Council Secretary General Wichean Potephosree told a news conference.

"It's happening not only in Thailand but also elsewhere."

A man carrying an Iranian passport had his legs blown off as he hurled an explosive device at Thai police in one of three blasts in Bangkok on Tuesday, officials said.

The explosions came a day after bombers targeted Israeli embassy staff in the capitals of India and Georgia, with a female diplomat seriously wounded in New Delhi, in attacks Israel said were plotted by Iran.

Thai bomb squad experts were called out to the Sukhumvit Road area in the east of the city after an apparently unintended blast at a house, following which three men were seen fleeing, authorities said.

One of the men hurled an explosive device at a taxi, which refused to stop, and then tried to throw another at police, triggering a blast at the side of a busy road which tore off his legs, they said.

Authorities detained a second Iranian man trying to board a flight out of the country while the third suspect was believed to have fled to Malaysia.

Bangkok has been on the watch for a terror attack since police last month charged a Lebanese man suspected of planning a strike following a US warning that tourist areas might be targeted.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-02-15