Second grenade attack rocks Bangkok

[webfact]

Second grenade attack
SUPACHAI PETCHTEWEE
The Nation


A series of images from a surveillance camera appear to show a man throwing a grenade at the anti-government rally site at Victory Monument yesterday.

Two grenades thrown at victory monument protest site; at least 28 hurt

BANGKOK: -- SOME 28 people, including a number of anti-government protesters, were wounded yesterday afternoon when two grenades were thrown at a rally site at Victory Monument.

Seven victims sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment at four hospitals. One of the wounded is a female Post Today reporter, Sitthinee Huangnark.

Witnesses said the first grenade was thrown near a bus stop near the rally stage, which is located in front of Rajvithi Hospital.

After the first grenade went off at around 1.30pm, a group of protesters and rally guards chased a man suspected of throwing it. The suspect fired three shots in the air to scare away those chasing him, before lobbing another grenade down from a pedestrian flyover, injuring a second group of victims.

The suspect continued to flee on the pedestrian flyover, running into Rajvithi Soi 14. The man fired another shot at one of his pursuers, wounding him in the stomach, before running further into the soi and jumping on a waiting motorcycle, on which he fled.

Police later inspected the scene and identified two grenade pins as belonging to Russian-made RGD-5 grenades - the same type used in the attack on Friday on protesters at Banthad Thong Road. At least 36 people were wounded in that attack, and one died of his injuries early on Saturday.

Former Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam, a core leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, which is staging the Shutdown campaign, said the attack was meant to harm him. Thaworn is supervising the Victory Monument stage. He said feedback from PDRC guards was that there were probably six men who took part in the latest attack.

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha deplored the attack, deputy Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said yesterday, adding that the Army chief had ordered the military to adjust security plans with the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

The areas of adjustment include the location of road checkpoints and a request for police to hasten investigations into previous attacks, especially in gathering information on who was behind the attacks on protesters.

In an earlier attack on the PDRC's Lat Phrao rally site at 11.20pm on Saturday, shots were fired at a

gate, seriously wounding a 53-year-old guard, the Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre said.

Yesterday's grenade attacks at Victory Monument prompted heightened security at all seven rally sites, especially the main venue at Pathumwan intersection.

PDRC core leader Satit Wongnongtaey said the additional measures include inspections of all protesters' baggage, an expansion of security rings around all rally sites, and more patrol teams around them.

Satit said joint operations between PDRC guards and police at road checkpoints seemed useless to him, as no ordinary vehicles going in or travelling near protest sites had been searched. Instead, only ambulances had been searched by police, he said.

PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban led a march yesterday from the Lat Phrao rally site to nearby areas and return without incident.

PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said that daily marches by protesters would continue unabated, but the government and the police had failed to bringing those responsible for the attacks to justice. They had only put blame on the protest leaders. He said the anti-government movement and protesters would gain nothing from carrying out such attacks.


-- The Nation 2014-01-20

[alfalfa19]

Those are pretty good photos. I would think that if a reward is posted, somebody will come forward to identify this character.

[bangkokheat]

but the government and the police had failed to bringing those responsible for the attacks to justice.

just as they had failed to arrest suthep

[aussieinthailand]

I wonder if this guy is another navy seal guard? the scuttle but seems to think he is,,, or will they cry police red hat, radio, guns, then have to back peddle?

[crazykopite]

He cannot be a red shirt he is to well dressed !!!!!

[bangkokheat]

i would not at all be surprised if an explosive device or a sniper will take out suthep

[NongKhaiKid]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

[aussieinthailand]

Find him and charge him with attempted murder no matter who he is...

[WitawatWatawit]

"Satit said joint operations between PDRC guards and police at road checkpoints seemed useless to him, as no ordinary vehicles going in or travelling near protest sites had been searched. Instead, only ambulances had been searched by police, he said."

Understand that PDRC guards have no authority to check vehicles, but are they really just standing around and not demanding the police inspect every vehicle? Not making any protests about the police selectiveness? And why only ambulances? If this is the case, then there is potential for a car bombing.

[ianf]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

Jonathan Head is well known as a reporter who is not independently and impartially reporting the news, as he should. This guy is on Thaksin's side, he is not a reporter he is propagandist. He associates exclusively with Thaksin's supporters and mocks those who propose alternative views to the ruling Government's. We all saw how this creature behaved during 2010.

[Boxclever]

The last hope for Suthep is for the army to stage a coup, only way to acheive this is to increase the violence.

Expect to see more of this in the coming days and weeks before the election.

Suthep has proven in the past he is more than willing to sacrifice his own people.

Sooner this loonatic is locked up the better.

[DocN]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

Jonathan Head is well known as a reporter who is not independently and impartially reporting the news, as he should. This guy is on Thaksin's side, he is not a reporter he is propagandist. He associates exclusively with Thaksin's supporters and mocks those who propose alternative views to the ruling Government's. We all saw how this creature behaved during 2010.

Prove please!

And again: voices in ones head do not count as prove!

[Ajaan]

Those are pretty good photos. I would think that if a reward is posted, somebody will come forward to identify this character.

Yawn. Yesterday's news. Learn to read Thai. The Thai newspapers are all over this. He is a former Navy Seal employed by Suthep. There's absolutely no mystery here. Suthep is injuring and killing his own people in an attempt to stir up unrest and get the army to undertake a coup.

[LivinLOS]

I wonder if this guy is another navy seal guard?

Looks a lot like him..

[ManopY]

Please click the picture to zoom-in!

What do you think?

[noitom]

He cannot be a red shirt he is to well dressed !!!!!

Yes, he's all stylishly matched up.

[AleG]

Those are pretty good photos. I would think that if a reward is posted, somebody will come forward to identify this character.

Yawn. Yesterday's news. Learn to read Thai. The Thai newspapers are all over this. He is a former Navy Seal employed by Suthep. There's absolutely no mystery here. Suthep is injuring and killing his own people in an attempt to stir up unrest and get the army to undertake a coup.

And another lie took root.

"Didn't you know Suthep used his Navy SEALS to kill his own people, I hear is true, cross my heart and hope to die if not!"

[ianf]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

Jonathan Head is well known as a reporter who is not independently and impartially reporting the news, as he should. This guy is on Thaksin's side, he is not a reporter he is propagandist. He associates exclusively with Thaksin's supporters and mocks those who propose alternative views to the ruling Government's. We all saw how this creature behaved during 2010.

Prove please!

And again: voices in ones head do not count as prove!

I think you mean 'do not count as proof'?

And for the life of me I do not understand what 'voices in ones (sic) head' means!

Perhaps you would care to elucidate?

Meanwhile:::

The BBC's Jonathan Head, in a recent live debate, revealed what he really knows and what his reporting seems to willfully omit. It is clear from this debate that does not disagree with the truth (I am told that he indeed has a very good understanding of the real political situation) But it is clear from all of his reportage (and I speak as a former journalist) that he chooses to spin a yarn that leads unsuspecting readers away from that truth. I would like to know why. And those that disagree should revisit his work and look through the cracks. Reportage should be about unbiased telling of FACTS. I am outraged that Head is unable, unwilling or for some other reason does not do this.

[AleG]

Please click the picture to zoom-in!

What do you think?

The shape of the mouth is a much closer match. The Navy guy has more rounded mouth corners, the guy on the CCTV footage has upward turned corners, a bit bow shaped upper lip.

[ianf]

Those are pretty good photos. I would think that if a reward is posted, somebody will come forward to identify this character.

Yawn. Yesterday's news. Learn to read Thai. The Thai newspapers are all over this. He is a former Navy Seal employed by Suthep. There's absolutely no mystery here. Suthep is injuring and killing his own people in an attempt to stir up unrest and get the army to undertake a coup.

Yawn Yawn Yawn. Gosh, you people are so gullible!

[jaapfries]

Those are pretty good photos. I would think that if a reward is posted, somebody will come forward to identify this character.

and I say this with ALL respect; but the way this individual performs that throw; would strongly suggest that this guy may well be gay . . . . .

[noitom]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

There used to be a famous cops and robbers TV show called Dragnet. The star was Jack Webb, Detective Sergeant Friday. His famous saying was. "Just the facts sir,' or "just the facts ma'am."

[pipkins]

The last hope for Suthep is for the army to stage a coup, only way to acheive this is to increase the violence.

Expect to see more of this in the coming days and weeks before the election.

Suthep has proven in the past he is more than willing to sacrifice his own people.

Sooner this loonatic is locked up the better.

Boxclever's response does not sound too clever - even for a lunatic (note). Try this as an alternative possibility:

one day before the first grenade attack, the red shirt enforcers (acting on behalf of Thaksin's wider movement) quite clearly stated that they were stockpiling weapons in Bangkok and preparing violent campaigns against the Suthep protesters. Their statement removed any possible doubt as to who is behind these attacks. Additionally, the Thaksin/Yingluck regime is trying to impose emergency laws across Bangkok, and in Thaksin's proven style he's using its own terror campaign as a pretext. You understand that such laws would make the protests, and any gathering of more than a few people, illegal and thus open the door to more overt and extreme measures. It is a scenario that cannot be discounted even by the most prejudiced of Thaksin's supporters (moles?) on this site.

You are sadly deluded if you think 2 grenade attacks is the Reds Military campaign.

They are talking about real stockpiles of real weapons with back up from soldiers who WILL change sides.

This is clready Suthep and co. The reds have no need to come out yet, there is no coup and the voting process has already begun...

I really think they will see off Suthep and the Coup without violence from Red side.

Big unanswered question is.. "As the Coup has been so hard to get going and is running out of support with a split military and elite - just what would happen if they did Coup" IMHO, it would be the start of the real reform process. The disenfranchised may not be interested in rigged elections again and Coup 20 would be assured anyway after they won the election... Which they (PT) would.

With the bottled up anger, they may just go for the Civil War route.... and scary for you keyboard warriors who only read PAD propaganda... is... They have the numbers!!!! fascists and dictators are regularly toppled or subjected to murder and behind the scenes changes.... You could never keep a dictator in power in Thailand with this Army. They can't even control 3 provinces in the south.....

Nobody asking for coup has thought about how they could control anything in the country outside of central Bangkok.

PDRC are not even getting the numbers out in their own town. What they going to o everywhere else? Send Suthep around Thailand on a sound truck..... Dream on if you thinking Thailand could ever be run by Suthep. He could try, but he could never ever pull it off. 81 days in and nobody in the army will move for him.... Is that success, mass uprising, etc. Naaaah

[jaidam]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

Jonathan Head is well known as a reporter who is not independently and impartially reporting the news, as he should. This guy is on Thaksin's side, he is not a reporter he is propagandist. He associates exclusively with Thaksin's supporters and mocks those who propose alternative views to the ruling Government's. We all saw how this creature behaved during 2010.

Prove please!

And again: voices in ones head do not count as prove!

To be fair to Jonathan Head, he has admitted that he finds the Thai political situation too complicated to understand(as per yesterdays TVF thread). It has long been evident from his reports that he has no clue as to the aims of the key players in Thai politics, and has clearly fallen under the spell of the expensive propaganda campaign carried out by the Shinawats.

I have no problem as regards articles by the propagandist and relaying the sweet pillow talk of his temporary bed fellows, but to see UK taxpayers money used to buy this drivel is somewhat galling.

[55Jay]

My first impression is he's military. Squared away hair cut and apparel. Hard to tell from only 3 still frames, but maybe some ex-forces guys would comment on his body form/posture. To me, it looks practiced and measured, not like some hooligan winding up to throw a beer bottle.

[Ulysses G.]

and I say this with ALL respect; but the way this individual performs that throw; would strongly suggest that this guy may well be gay . . . . .

He does seem a bit of a sissy for a Navy SEAL.

[ratcatcher]

i would not at all be surprised if an explosive device or a sniper will take out suthep

I guess that would make your day.

[kurnell]

Whoever he is he throws like a girl

[Spalpeen]

i would not at all be surprised if an explosive device or a sniper will take out suthep

.

I predicted this a few days ago. He's now more use to them as a martyr than as a nutter wandering around Bangkok.

[Thait Spot]

This whole complicated protest situation isn't helped by some of the reporting.

In the other newspaper today the police are quoted as saying that grenades were thrown by someone mingling with the crowd and not from height.

However the BBC's Johnathan ' Dick ' Head quotes the police as saying the grenade thrower was one of the protesters ' own ' which completely changes the story.

Which of these reports is most accurate is beyond me and it's not the first time the authorities have made different statements to the media so did the other newspaper ignore a vital point or did Head add something in ? Just because someone is in a crowd doesn't have to mean they are a supporter as it's easy to mingle unless you are dressed completely in red and carrying a placard saying " I support the government ".

It suits Suthep to accuse the government and / or their supporters of responsibility whereas it suits others, many on this forum, to believe it's deliberate self-inflicted injury to increase sympathy and support.

Personally i would settle for the truth warts and all in order to get my head around what's really happening.

Jonathan Head is well known as a reporter who is not independently and impartially reporting the news, as he should. This guy is on Thaksin's side, he is not a reporter he is propagandist. He associates exclusively with Thaksin's supporters and mocks those who propose alternative views to the ruling Government's. We all saw how this creature behaved during 2010.

Prove please!

And again: voices in ones head do not count as prove!

Anyone who's read his articles on politics over the past 5 years.

The last one I read was an extremely distorted interview in the ever so slightly red stronghold of Udon Thani where he went out of his way to ask the family of someone who died in the 2010 protests about Suthep

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