Three killed, 25 injured at concert explosion in Roi Et

Roi Et - A grenade was hurled at a group of teenagers at traditional I-saan concert in this northeastern province early Tuesday, fatally injuring three and severely injuring 25 others, police said.

The attack occurred at 3:30 am at a concert in a temple fair in Roi Et's Suvarnabhumi district.

Police believed that a rival gang lobbed the grenade at the teenagers who were dancing on the right side of the stage.

Police found that the bomb was an M67 grenade.

The injured were rushed to the Suvarnabhumi Hospital and Roi Et Hospital. Three of them died at the Roi Et Hospital. They were identified as Wiriwan Sibuala, 40, Sarawut Utla, 16, and Apisit Saengnet, 16.

-- The Nation 2014-02-25

This starts to feel like there are people who really wish to start a civil war. When these news are no longer breaking news, there are very few smiles left on this country. Reconstruction of trust in the country will take years or decades.

How can we start reminding the opponents all the good things they have done together. For example how Thais were helping each others during the tsunami.

Edit: Might be that this is "just" an gang war, but what the youngsters will learn what adults are doing to this country.

Sigh...even the gangsters are using grenades now to 'solve' disputes.

This country's going straight to hell.

Rival gangs throwing grenades at each other! Where is the Land of Smiles heading?

where did the grenade come from?

let's see if the police move on this violent and tragic crime.

Not a good sign.

My condolences to the families of the deceased.

Another coward, non political act, performed in Thailand.

It seems it's safer to live in the jungle than in Thailand nowadays.

teenagers with grenades, where do they get them, from their parents secret stash? This is getting beyond a joke when teenage gangs start using these weapons, they can only get them from adults so what are the adults doing with them. It is way past time for laws to be enforced in regard to all weapons, everywhere you go there are idiots with guns visible on them, off duty police carry them openly, drivers have them in their cars to wave around, it is a total jbullsh*t and in the majority of cases it is simply a p*ssing contest for the ones involved. For some demented reason these idiots think having these weapons makes them more of a man, this is the result of p*ss poor policing and pathetic education, they simply dont know any better.

Begin of a guerilla war?

Woow I have been on thaivisa reading many posts the past few days and this story and the story of the man who lost his 2 innocent kids , has broken my heart . Along with other stories.

All I can do is think of my kids and so many innocent kids

Starting to look like a sustained, country wide reaching attack. Surely there is just one that would benefit from such acts.

Seems more child victims are the order of the day for the monster behind this movement.

Begin of a guerilla war?

Why? Tragic and worrying but not political.

This is a tragedy - yet another tragedy in a series of tragedies, and more lives senselessly wasted. The Thai people deserve so much better than this.

Every country has shit for brains hiding in the woodwork, just give them an opening and they will be there, sadly.

My condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

Not good.

3 die, Two 16 year olds and a 40 year old, from a rival gang ??? how many females ??? from rival gangs---doesn't sound right to me.

Police should have been there, they cannot stop a grenade being thrown but they can find it at the temple gate on entry. or no search maybe. no money in it.

I'm sorry but there is something lacking in this whole picture here in Thailand, The policing. navy guarding-army guarding private guards guarding,

my god if I had a chance I would shake this franchise up once and for all.

I know no one can just stop all this, BUT the lack of law enforcement and clean leadership is all too apparent.

Most of the best people are not in positions in government if they were we would see things run normal.

There are concerts tonight in UDON THANI, I am informing all I know to be careful and try to avoid mass crowds.

Imagine enjoying dancing with friends and a bloody grenade takes of your arm and leg. <deleted> Government bow out please. lets have some peace, So sad for friends and family, and Thailand.

While this does not seem to be directly connected to the political unrest in Thailand, it nevertheless indicates, to me at least, that the youth of the country are taking their cues from teir elders and the general descent into lawlessness and violence seen on an almost daily basis.

This starts to feel like there are people who really wish to start a civil war. When these news are no longer breaking news, there are very few smiles left on this country. Reconstruction of trust in the country will take years or decades.

How can we start reminding the opponents all the good things they have done together. For example how Thais were helping each others during the tsunami.

Edit: Might be that this is "just" an gang war, but what the youngsters will learn what adults are doing to this country.

You also must remember how many millions of dollars came up missing, and could not be accounted for. No arrest, rumored to have police involvement. You can be sure some politicians got their share also.

Condolences to family. Let's hope this does not become a common occurrence amongst students.

Begin of a guerilla war?

Why? Tragic and worrying but not political.

But we don't know if it wasn't political, maybe not rival gangs normally take knives and actually fight at these Lao Dancing gigs.

Roi Et what party is controlling there ???

More police at road blocks than at temple gates.

Rival gangs throwing grenades at each other! Where is the Land of Smiles heading?

Heading straight to the Land of Blood.

I've never seen anything like the availability of grenades and guns here in Thailand

And I've never seen anything like the nonchalence with which they are indiscriminately used

Completely out of control

This starts to feel like there are people who really wish to start a civil war. When these news are no longer breaking news, there are very few smiles left on this country. Reconstruction of trust in the country will take years or decades.

How can we start reminding the opponents all the good things they have done together. For example how Thais were helping each others during the tsunami.

Edit: Might be that this is "just" an gang war, but what the youngsters will learn what adults are doing to this country.

You also must remember how many millions of dollars came up missing, and could not be accounted for. No arrest, rumored to have police involvement. You can be sure some politicians got their share also.

...and within one hour of the opening post, the thread descends into political posturing.

Interesting, Mahasarakham Province had an almost identical grenade attack about a year ago at a concert in Prathat Na Dun where a policeman was killed + many injured. It hardly made national news, let alone spark dire pronouncements of which politician is at fault or profited.

Let's grow up, and stop using EVERY incident to stoke the political fire, OK? It would be great if particularly Thailand's expat community were a force for peace rather than part of the problem.

Local turf war

Thailand - Land of Grenades. Kiss goodbye to the tourism industry.

it looks like the begin of a guerilla war.

Until recently we looked askance at the violence in Bangkok.

Just lately however there have been increasing reports of violence in Isaan.

A worrying trend indeed.

For those who may not know, alcohol fuelled inter-village conflicts are the "norm" at Esaan concerts. Sad to say that sometimes these turn into stabbings and shootings. I have travelled to many concerts with my wife who is a singer. At concerts the men are frisked but the girls bags are not searched, although many concerts are totally uncontrolled. I agree with a poster that the use of a grenade(which has featured so prominently in the news of late) is of great concern. I hear the company performing last nights concert will now ensure everyone is searched before entry. p.s. A farang going to a concert should stay at the rear of the crowd (never go near the stage) and disappear at the first sign of trouble.

What the hell is this country coming to?

And exactly where are all these items of war coming from? Thailand is no longer circling the drain, they are going down the drain. Failed state, anyone?