16 injured in blast near anti-govt protest in Bangkok: health officials

BANGKOK, February 23, 2014 (AFP) - At least 16 people were injured in a blast Sunday near an anti-government protest site in Bangkok, the Erawan emergency centre said on its website.

"Sixteen people have been reported injured," the centre said, after the blast outside a major supermarket in a popular downtown commercial district.

Police could not immediately confirm the cause of the blast.

Blood was splattered on the pavement as soldiers and police sealed the area off, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

Rallies trying to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have been hit by several gun and grenade attacks by unidentified assailants.

The protesters have carried out a self-styled "shutdown" of the city, blocking several key intersections for weeks as they try to pressure the government to resign.

A five-year-old girl was killed and several people were critically wounded in a drive-by shooting of an anti-government rally late Saturday in eastern Thailand.

Tensions are high in the kingdom as protesters try to upend the crisis-hit government and replace it with an unelected "people's council" to carry out reforms to root out corruption and alleged vote-buying.

Clashes between protesters and police last week left five people dead -- including a police officer -- in Bangkok's historic centre, close to the famous Khaosan tourist district.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-02-23

RT2RichardBarrow: Reports of 3 children among injured at explosion near Ratchaprasong. One seriously hurt (Pic @Hui_Nation) pic.twitter.com/PiVTHihYYg

RT@Tulip_Oum: The Nation reports 16 injured, while Thai News Agency reports 21 injured from BigC explosion incident. All said info from Erawan Center.

Let's hope no one dies.

I wonder if the red shirts are going to cheer the injuries like they cheered the casualties at Trat! And the timing of Nattawut's speech about 'all out battles' seem to have been timed pretty well if you ask me.

RT@veen_NT: 5.25pm Nattawut: We are fir all-out battle although we don't have our stage in Bangkok yet. It will be our greatest fight.

RT@Tulip_Oum: 5:53PM update number of injured from Erawan Center is now 21, all sent to hospital.(via @js100radio)

enough is enough, Suthep should go to the negotiating table NOW instead of inflaming the situation on a daily basis with his rhetoric.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Charlem promised attacks by "unknown" terrorists and he have delivered, a man of his word, a shining role model for red lovers. To those of you who called him liar, what do you say now?

Let's hope no one dies.

I wonder if the red shirts are going to cheer the injuries like they cheered the casualties at Trat! And the timing of Nattawut's speech about 'all out battles' seem to have been timed pretty well if you ask me.

RT@veen_NT: 5.25pm Nattawut: We are fir all-out battle although we don't have our stage in Bangkok yet. It will be our greatest fight.

Enough of your bs rhetoric. You're like a one legged man at an arsekicking contest with your scattergun unsubstantiated accusations. Desist.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Apparently, it happened next to BigC. They might have been just shopping.

enough is enough, Suthep should go to the negotiating table NOW instead of inflaming the situation on a daily basis with his rhetoric.

Real funny. Protestors are the ones getting bombed and shot at and it's Suthep that's the one inflaming the situation.

apparently caught a suspect...

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

It's been a peaceful afternoon in front of a major shopping mall in Bangkok. Why wouldn't there be families?

Let's hope no one dies.

I wonder if the red shirts are going to cheer the injuries like they cheered the casualties at Trat! And the timing of Nattawut's speech about 'all out battles' seem to have been timed pretty well if you ask me.

RT@veen_NT: 5.25pm Nattawut: We are fir all-out battle although we don't have our stage in Bangkok yet. It will be our greatest fight.

Enough of your bs rhetoric. You're like a one legged man at an arsekicking contest with your scattergun unsubstantiated accusations. Desist.

Did the red shirts NOT cheer the Trat casualties? Wasn't Nattawut's speech minutes apart from the bombing which happened at about 5pm? I didn't make any accusations. Just saying.

2008 - attack by unknowns men against PAD (Red government)

2010 - attack by unknowns men against Security forces, civilian, public installation (Red demonstration)

2014 - attack by unknowns men against PRDC, civilian, children (Red government)

what you want to tell more !!!!!!

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Yes - a responsible parent will know that a peaceful rally for democracy is a peaceful rally for a better future for the kids, and hence a responsible parent would involve the kids as much as possible, so the kids understand why and what is at stake...

SICK peoples on the other hand - throw bombs at peaceful parents with peaceful kids...

.

It should be patently obvious to all but the ideologically challenged that this so-called "government" has lost the last vestiges of moral authority to govern. Another attack on anti-government protesters, with many injured, including children. 50+ attacks, and not a single perpetrator identified or arrested. A State of Emergency declared not to increase the level of security and reduce the number of violent incidents, but purely as a means to suppress and silence the opposition. It is inconceivable that the combined forces of the police and military could not be brought to bear to guarantee the safety of the protestors and prevent further bloodshed and this horrendous loss of life.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Apparently, it happened next to BigC. They might have been just shopping.

It's not the first time when kids are involved.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Yes - a responsible parent will know that a peaceful rally for democracy is a peaceful rally for a better future for the kids, and hence a responsible parent would involve the kids as much as possible, so the kids understand why and what is at stake...

SICK peoples on the other hand - throw bombs at peaceful parents with peaceful kids...

.

Peaceful rally???? You must be joking.

Suthep and his mob is famous for peaceful rallies. Lol

Chalerm's cowardly warriors strike again...

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Apparently, it happened next to BigC. They might have been just shopping.

It's not the first time when kids are involved.

True. In Trat kids at a market were killed in and injured. Do you want people to stop taking kids to markets too?

instead of criticising each other does anyone have any accurate information about where it took place? sounds like outside big C at ratchaprasong?

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Yes - a responsible parent will know that a peaceful rally for democracy is a peaceful rally for a better future for the kids, and hence a responsible parent would involve the kids as much as possible, so the kids understand why and what is at stake...

SICK peoples on the other hand - throw bombs at peaceful parents with peaceful kids...

.

Peaceful rally???? You must be joking.

Suthep and his mob is famous for peaceful rallies. Lol

Yes, peaceful rally. There has been no sign of violence at Ratchaprasong, MBK, Silom or Asoke.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Maybe they took them to Big C or Central World - this is in the middle of Bangkoks busiest shopping district.

No children allowed in BKK now?

RT@RichardBarrow: Suspect has been caught in Big C blast - RT @tigeryellowlive: เหตุที่ราชประสงค์ จับคนปาระเบิดได้แล้ว 1 คน

In the picture, it appears the Army have caught a 'suspect'. Now 2 Suspects, 1 believed from Sisakrit.

Why would these people take their kids to rally sites? It's unbelievable.

A responsible mother/father should never do this.

Yes - a responsible parent will know that a peaceful rally for democracy is a peaceful rally for a better future for the kids, and hence a responsible parent would involve the kids as much as possible, so the kids understand why and what is at stake...

SICK peoples on the other hand - throw bombs at peaceful parents with peaceful kids...

.

Peaceful rally???? You must be joking.

Suthep and his mob is famous for peaceful rallies. Lol

LOL

Yes, you mean these violent protests where PDRC guards have weapons and bombs, where "popcorn warriers" who Suthep brags about have assault rifles and grenades.

Peaceful protests ? They are as violent as can be, armed to the teeth wtih grenades and assault weapons are some of those among the PDRC.

In my opinion of course.

RT@RichardBarrow: Suspect has been caught in Big C blast - RT @tigeryellowlive: เหตุที่ราชประสงค์ จับคนปาระเบิดได้แล้ว 1 คน

In the picture, it appears the Army have caught a 'suspect'. No sight of any police in the photo.

On Richard's feed, the photo of suspect says he's from Sisaket....and also, another suspect caught. makes 2 now...

Quotre:

RT@RichardBarrow: Suspect has been caught in Big C blast - RT @tigeryellowlive: เหตุที่ราชประสงค์ จับคนปาระเบิดได้แล้ว 1 คน pic.twitter.com/RX17bVlxhs

Here is the suspected bomber.

I notice it was the military that arrested him as well.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

The red shirts have never said they will target any protestors with violence - please show me your links where it explicitly says violence will be used against protesters by red shirts.

RT@veen_NT: 5.25pm Nattawut: We are fir all-out battle although we don't have our stage in Bangkok yet. It will be our greatest fight.

RT@waanspeaking RT @nikhon_: (A) red shirt leader said on stage in Korat he/she was gratified by attack at PDRC Trat stage. Tida had to stop him/her.

Looks like their battle has started.