Bomb blasts rock Hat Yai

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Bomb blasts rock Hat Yai


Photo: Twitter



HAT YAI: -- Four separate bomb blasts hit Hat Yai district of Songkhla on Tuesday causing injuries to five people. A fifth bomb found near the entrance to apartments inside Prince of Songkhla Hospital was safely defused.

The first bombs separately went off at about 1.30pm in front of 7 Eleven convenient store on Ponpichai Road and near the police flats opposite Hat Yai police station. The blast at the police flats damaged many vehicles as it the bomb had been placed near the police station's parking area.

Fire fighters rushed to the scene to control the flames caused by the explosions. Later reports said two more bomb blasts hit an area near Hat Yai railway station as well as close to Robinson department store.

A further bomb was found near the flats in Prince of Sonkhla Hospital but the bomb squad as able to defuse it in time.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06

[webfact]

RT @ChadapornLin: All eyes on Hat Yai now following 2 bomb explosions which injured 8; mayor worries there may be more bombs

Eight people, two policemen and six civilians, were injured by two bomb explosions in the heart of Hat Yai city of Songkhla province on Tuesday afternoon. /Bangkok Post

[webfact]

Twin blasts rock largest city in Thai south

BANGKOK, May 6, 2014 (AFP) - At least six people were wounded in twin blasts in southern Thailand's main commercial city of Hat Yai -- the gateway to the kingdom's insurgency-stricken deep south, authorities said Tuesday.

The blasts rocked the city in the early afternoon with one detonating near a convenience store and the other exploding by apartments being built for local police.

Television footage showed thick billows of smoke near the apartments as firefighters battled a blaze sparked by the device which was hidden on a parked motorcycle.

"There were two bombs attacks, at least six people were injured -- none of them is in a serious condition," Grisda Boonrach, Songkhla provincial governor told AFP.

Local police said the bombs were around 25 minutes apart and confirmed the casualties.

Although authorities were not immediately sure who carried out the blasts, suspicion will inevitably fall on insurgents from Thailand's three Muslim-majority southern provinces which border Malaysia.

Hat Yai, the largest city in Thailand's south which is popular with Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, was targeted in 2012 by a car bomb at a city hotel which sparked a blaze that killed three people, wounded hundreds and left parts of the city centre resembling a war zone.

The city is a one-hour drive to Pattani, one of three provinces which have battered by a decade-long war which has claimed more than 6,000 lives -- the majority civilians.

The conflict pits shadowy insurgents in the Muslim Malay area against Thai security forces, but Muslim and Buddhist civilians are most often the victims of the near-daily bombings, shootings and sometimes beheadings.

Thailand annexed the deep south more than a century ago.

The rebels want a level of autonomy, accusing Thai authorities of riding roughshod over their distinct culture and carrying out human rights abuses.

Observers say there has been an uptick in the violence in recent months following the suspension of peace talks between some rebel factions and Thai authorities.

The talks floundered as political turmoil in Bangkok engulfed the government of Yingluck Shinawatra -- but all sides have expressed hopes of reviving them over coming months.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-06

[webfact]

Three bombs struck Hat Yai

BANGKOK: -- Hat Yai was hit by at least three bomb explosions this afternoon injuring 5-7 people and causing damages to several cars.

Initial report said that the first bomb explosion occurred in front of 7-Eleven convenience store on Polpichai road in front of the Southern Engineering College at about 1.30 pm. About five people were slightly injured.

The second bomb occurred about half an hour later in front of the police apartment just opposite Hat Yai police station. Shortly afterward, a third bomb went off at the car park of the police station causing several parked cars to catch fire.

It was initially suspected that the bomb attacks were perpetrated by southern separatists who normally confined their insurgency activities in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/three-bombs-struck-hat-hai/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-06

[devaram]

I love Hat Yai one of the friendliest cities in Thailand.

Really sad.

[kannot]

SCUM!!

[Dr. Zorg]

My car was parked juist outside the police compound, about 20 metres from the explosion. Miraculously, there was no damage to my car. I was inside the immigration building, nexto the police station, about 100 metres from the explotion. Luckily no damage or injuries to the people inside. Apart from a botched visa application (will have to go back tomorrow), a histerical wife, we had a lucky escape.

[BKS22]

I've been in the area of these blasts on numerous occasions. Really sad to see this, HatYai is easily in my top 3 favorite cities in Thailand.

Let's hope this madness comes to an end. The residents there deserve better.

[weegee]

Looks to me as if the bomb was set off in the area where old wrecks are parked following crashes and confiscations....some have been there for years.

[Dr. Zorg]

Yes. It's the impounded vehicles.

[wileycoyote]

Not good,hopefully only a low number of casualties

[Somtamnication]

Oh my Thai Bhudda. Is it me or are these bombs getting "better"?

[webfact]

10 wounded in twin Hat Yai bomb attacks
By Digital Content



SONGKHLA, May 6--- Two separate bomb attacks rocked Hat Yai, the business district of Songkhla, this afternoon and injured at least 10 persons.

Fourth Army Region commander Lt Gen Walit Rojanapakdi said four of the 10 victims remain hospitalised for further treatment, but not with life threatening injuries.

The two attacks occurred at around 1.40pm in Hat Yai municipality.

The first explosion was in a parking lot inside a police residential compound near the Hat Yai Police Station on Phetkasem Road. The powerful explosion severely damaged cars parked around the blast site.

Shortly after the first bombing, another explosive device went off at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Polpichai Road. The area surrounding the blast was set afire and parked cars and motorcycles were destroyed by the explosion.

Regarding the bombing at the police flat, officials presumed that assailants planted a large explosive device in a car parked in the police flat.

Meanwhile, a bomb was hidden in a motorcycle parked near a convenience store.

Gen Walit said that according to the initial investigation, the vehicle that exploded was a car with an expired registration that was earlier stopped at a police checkpoint and brought to the police parking lot.

The police were inspecting CCTV footage to find clues relating to the bomb attacks. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-05-06

[djjamie]

Firstly this is a terrible act that does not seem to cease. The PTP have really ignored the south while trying to cling to power. Shame on them. Peace talks have stopped and the voters are held in contempt again.

When there is a terrorist attack in Thailand one can be assured yingluck will be inspecting fruit the next day.

Better check out her FB page for her reaction to it, if any. She probably won't even know about it.

[beammeup]

Doesnt look like a very effective campaign. Looks more like someone is trying to scare or destabilize the region

[Maroon Watcher]

...again it's not about religion, it's not about converting everyone to a "Better" life.

It's about land grab and you paying Them rent for it...

"In the name of the poor, I claim this land as ours, so that our religion can prevail and all can be rich!"

("...as long as I am first... and richest... and you are MY servants")

[Tom420]

I met an American guy in his mid 20s whilst in Penang a few years back. he said he lived in Hat Yai with his girlfriend and I thought to myself, why the hell would you do a thing like that

[OmarZaidMD]

Hat Yai is a great city. I go there often, never had any trouble. Even so, I was able to spot suspicious locations for extremists. I also know for a fact that folks across the border support them. One even tried to recruit me as a 'doc' for the wounded. I was silent. Dangerous stuff.

I edited a Phd thesis on the subject some years ago, after which I concluded these animals who kill innocents are receiving outside help and misdirection; especially after two events:(1) an agreement between Malaysia and Thais on joint Military ventures that excluded the granting of a military base to the US in the S China Sea; and (2) the fiasco where 80 plus of them were corralled at a central mosque immediately after a very successful op.

Solution? Any ideas? Mine is to have Thais withdraw and leave the Muslims to their own devices while keep a fiercely guarded perimeter. They will fail of course, but let them eat each other rather than disturb the peace of the nation.

Yes, I am a Muslim, but what they are doing is not Islamic in the least. Were I young again, I'd be busy hunting them down like the animals they've become.

Edited May 6, 2014 by OmarZaidMD

[weegee]

Mrs weegee just came home from The Prince Of Songkhla Hospital, been there all day....

Thank god they defused that one there.....Fancy putting a bomb at a hospital....how low are they going to be allowed to go.

[schondie]

Another lucky escape for me! A was in Hat Yai the day before the bomb went off under Lee Gardens and the wife and I were going to go to Hat Yai this week but luckily we both had work today.

I hope people in HY stay safe and no more bombs today.

[ubonjoe]

A post advocating violence and replies to it has been removed.

[ebonykap]

Cowardice

[notmyself]

I edited a Phd thesis on the subject some years ago, after which I concluded these animals who kill innocents are receiving outside help and misdirection

Indeed. The outside help comes from the Qur'an.

[SOTIRIOS]

....who might want to do such a thing......???

[slipperylobster]

Oh my Thai Bhudda. Is it me or are these bombs getting "better"?

I think you meant...bigger? Bombs never get better...it they did, they would just be small firecrackers.

[diehard60]

Firstly this is a terrible act that does not seem to cease. The PTP have really ignored the south while trying to cling to power. Shame on them. Peace talks have stopped and the voters are held in contempt again.

When there is a terrorist attack in Thailand one can be assured yingluck will be inspecting fruit the next day.

Better check out her FB page for her reaction to it, if any. She probably won't even know about it.

Well I knew soneone from sutheps side would try to blame the TPT. But the TPT are no where near that area because irt is suthep's spot and it probbaly was his own people doing it.

[diehard60]

....who might want to do such a thing......???

ask suthep that is his favorite pass time to kill and hurt people.

[Jack Mountain]

....who might want to do such a thing......???

... Dronebama ...

Edited May 6, 2014 by Jack Mountain

[Benmart]

My car was parked juist outside the police compound, about 20 metres from the explosion. Miraculously, there was no damage to my car. I was inside the immigration building, nexto the police station, about 100 metres from the explotion. Luckily no damage or injuries to the people inside. Apart from a botched visa application (will have to go back tomorrow), a histerical wife, we had a lucky escape.

Glad you and your wife are ok. Please take care and be aware of your surroundings.

[shrimpythailand]

amazing nobody was killed and it says 10 injured but not life threatening.... of course the gov has left the south alone and now 5 months of no gov really.... I wonder what would happen if the 3 souther provinces actually did a Referendum vote like Crimea just did and scotland is doing way down in september... hmmm... if they voted like Crimea did - maybe the usa would have to step in and appoint an interim PM and leaders to go after teh "terrorists" in the south of Thailand just like what has been done in the Ukraine...but seriously... the south has not had a vote to leave thailand yet ?

it's a darn good thing Thailand doesn't need to borrow 18+ billion from the IMF - cause it would be a whole new ballgame here....and who knows where these guys are getting their bomb making materials from? home made from Tesko and the local fertilizer shops or maybe Malay or who else would be wanting to supply them...the good ol C of IA just for fun and practice? they seem to be great at killing teachers, monks, rubber plantation workers and also quite a few thai army guys and police... I would sit down and give them some self autonomy and get some projects going that the money could be controlled somehow so it goes to muslim schools and stuff and not into buying more guns and bombs...but what do i know - i'm just a dumb falung here for 14 yrs in bangkok....