Explosion at Phuket Provincial Hall, bomb suspected

[webfact]

Breaking News: Explosion at Phuket Provincial Hall, bomb suspected
Phuket Gazette


Police inspect the scene of the explosion at Provincial Hall. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Gazette has confirmed reports of an explosion at the Phuket Provincial Hall complex in Phuket Town just after 2pm today.

Police officers at the scene found the remains of a clock and batteries among the debris from an explosion that emanated from a green plastic trash can in the car park in front of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) building.

Three cars were damaged in the explosion.

So far, no injuries have been reported.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Breaking-News-Explosion-at-Phuket-Provincial-Hall-bomb-suspected-21828.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-01

[laurentbkk]

The Phuket soap opera never end ... everyday a new story ... I just wonder why people still go there on holidays ....

[webfact]

Explosion in Phuket Town, bomb suspected
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- An loud explosion at the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor) office carpark on Narisorn Road, Phuket Town, around 2pm today (August 1) was believed to be caused by a bomb, initial reports say.

A parked van was damaged in the blast. There were no reports of injuries.

The remains of a bomb, believed to be a small home-made device, was found hidden in a trash bin in the carpark.

Police and other officials are at the scene now and the area has been blocked off.

A OrBorJor employee told The Phuket News she was working inside the OrBorJor office when she clearly heard the bomb and that it was very loud. Initially she thought it was an electricity generator exploding outside.

"I was frightened," she said.

Another witness was at the Phuket Provincial Hall PR Office – around 20 metres away – when she heard the noise and saw smoke coming out of the area where the bomb exploded.

Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Saneh Yawila said, "We do not think it was politically motivated."

More details to come.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/explosion-in-phuket-town-bomb-suspected-41145.php


-- Phuket News 2013-08-01

[ozymandious]

not good news

[Guest]

not good news

The good news were that it was a minor explosion, nobody got hurt and that it was in Phuket Provincial hall. Therefore likely to be local dispute and not to cause terror in touristic areas.

[Boater]

they knew about it, hence the drill today at the airport, just didnt know where it was going to happen

[Payboy]

Time to crack down on green plastic trash cans.

[eezergood]

Not political, probably a land dispute......<deleted>

I love it

[alexander69]

Another brick blown out of the wall,pink pyjamas

[Djaotchou]

They were in the wrong place today: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/-Bombs-detonated-at-Phuket-Airport-drill-21826.html

[bangkokheat]

went bang like a bomb, made a mess like a bomb, yep it was a bomb

[SouthernMan3]

I would think that at the Phuket Provincial Hall they would have CCTV.

Is that the case ?

[TackyToo]

Not political, probably a land dispute......<deleted>

I love it

As we all learned from the news before, if it was done because a person had a political stance going in the “right” direction, it seems to be OK. TIT!!!

[unanimosity]

The Phuket soap opera never end ... everyday a new story ... I just wonder why people still go there on holidays ....

Do you suppose, as has been contended previously, that the islamic separatists are now moving north on holiday in order to have a blast?

[johnlandy]

Time to crack down on green plastic trash cans.

Yes indeed, in fact they should ban the things 'the blue ones seem all right though'

And whilst it seems that there was a bit of a bang it's difficult to see what 'if any' damage was caused. Just sufficient noise to interrupt the coppers afternoon siesta

[klauskunkel]

The Explosion happened today at 2pm. One hour later already comes the statement:

Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Saneh Yawila said, "We do not think it was politically motivated."

Enlighten us, oh Unparalleled Provincial Police Deputy Commander, how and why do you know this so fast?

[allan michaud]

The Phuket soap opera never end ... everyday a new story ... I just wonder why people still go there on holidays ....

Do you suppose, as has been contended previously, that the islamic separatists are now moving north on holiday in order to have a blast?

Pissed off tuk tuk or taxi driver maybe

[rjcampbe]

A public trash can? In Thailand???

[stevehaigh]

The Phuket soap opera never end ... everyday a new story ... I just wonder why people still go there on holidays ....

Do you suppose, as has been contended previously, that the islamic separatists are now moving north on holiday in order to have a blast?

Pissed off tuk tuk or taxi driver maybe

if we had a poll on the likely culprit, i would go with tuk tuk too

[skorchio]

yeah, my first thoughts are transport cartels ..... we already know they are low enough to resort to this sort of business ....

[shunima]

not good news

"... Therefore likely to be local dispute and not to cause terror in touristic areas. "

Right, because that is the responsibility of motorbike and jet ski rentals and the amazing Tuk Tuk cooperative. No need for bombs, they have all what's needed to reach the same goal.

[SuwadeeS]

Maybe, because the government wants to clean up the mafia.

[denby45]

I would think that at the Phuket Provincial Hall they would have CCTV.

Is that the case ?

Not anymore.

Den

[deecee10]

A bomb with a clock and batteries.

tick tick

tuk tuk

[Chrisswe]

They come closer and closer !!

[frizbee999]

They come closer and closer !!

That's what I thought when I heard news.

[phuketsub]

Don't jump to confusions; this has nothing to do with the situation in the Deep South.

Personally it has always amazed me just how lax the security is at SalaKlang.

Even the separatists in the Deep South have never targetted a seat of provincial power, at least not that I am aware.

Anyway, given that the Phuket Reporters Club office is a stone's throw away, I wonder why more news hasn't been forthcoming.

I wonder if this could have anything to do with the protest to build a new SalaKlaang across the street. I talked to the mototaxi drivers there last week and they told me the protest was over.

Anyway, this should be an interesting case to follow.

[SouthernMan3]

I would think that at the Phuket Provincial Hall they would have CCTV.

Is that the case ?

Not anymore. width=19 alt=whistling.gif>

Den

What ?

They blew it up ?

[phuketsub]

MCOT Thai language site just reported that police think the bomb, which was 'not that powerful' , was probably meant to intimidate, not kill. The back this up by saying the location was in the parking lot, away from people.

The describe the device as an IED, detonated by clock: a crude time bomb.

OrBorJor chairman Paiboon quoted as saying he didn't think it could be from a conflict between any OrBorJor [elected] officials or kha ratchakaan (civil servants), but said he couldn't rule out that it could have been related to dissatisfaction over a bid outcome.

[phuketsub]

Also, Paiboon was also quoted in that report as saying they will now install CCTV around there, so apparently they didn't have any -- or enough -- prior to this.

The explosion was the second top story in a teaser for the national news tonight on channel 3, after the latest bombing in Bannang Sata, Yala.