Thai police say wave of bomb blasts in central and south of the country are not linked to Islamic terrorism

[webfact]

Thai police say wave of bomb blasts in central and south of the country are not linked to Islamic terrorism

JERRY HARMER, Associated Press
TODD PITMAN, Associated Press

 

HUA HIN, Thailand (AP) — A wave of coordinated explosions rattled multiple cities across southern Thailand, killing at least four people and wounding dozens more, police said Friday. Among the injured were 10 foreigners in the seaside resort town of Hua Hin.

 

It was not clear who was behind the attacks, but police said the violence was not linked to Islamic terrorism. The timing and scope suggested the bombs were set off by opponents of the Southeast Asian nation's ruling junta, which last weekend organized a successful referendum on a constitution that critics say will bolster the military's power for years to come.

 

The explosions all occurred south of Bangkok and several of the blasts — including one on Patong beach in the tourist resort of Phuket — appeared designed to hit the tourism industry.

 

Thailand's economy has sagged since the military seized power in a 2014 coup, but tourism has remained one of the few bright spots, with more than 14 million people visiting in 2016 so far — up from 12.5 million the year before.

 

The first two explosions occurred overnight on a busy street in the tourist city of Hua Hin, which was hit again by another blast on Friday morning. The city is home to a swath of beachfront resorts as well as a royal palace.

 

Police and Thai media reported other blasts the southern cities of Phuket, Trang and Surat Thani.

 

Royal Thai Police official Col. Krisana Patanacharoen said it was too soon say who was behind the attacks, but "we are sure that it is not linked to terrorism."

 

Friday's blast took place on the birthday of Thailand's Queen Sirikit. 

 

Tourist Shane Brett told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. from his hotel room in Hua Hin that there was panic after the first explosion, which police said killed one Thai woman and wounded about 20 others, half of them foreigners.

 

"I was at a bar in the main bar district in Hua Hin right outside the Hilton Hotel and at first I heard kind of a bang ... and everyone kind of panicked," Brett said.

 

He looked outside the bar and said saw people running. Half an hour later, he made it back to his hotel. On the way, he said he saw "a good few people injured and the whole area just panicking ... the whole area was just shut down with police cars, ambulances."

 

The bombs Thursday were set off by remote control, half an hour apart, according to Pol. Gen. Sithichai Srisopacharoenrath, the superintendent of police in Hua Hin, and his deputy, Lt. Gen. Samer Yousamran.

 

Sithichai said both devices were hidden inside plants on a street filled with restaurants, bars and food vendors that is popular with tourists and local residents. He said a Samsung cell phone had been recovered that they believe was used to detonate at least one the bombs.

 

The fatality Thursday was described in Thai media as a female street food vendor. Several of the injured were in serious condition, the reports said. Pol. Lt Chaiyot Tisawong, an officer in Hua Hin, said 10 of the injured were foreigners. Their nationalities were not immediately known.

 

On Friday morning, two more bombs exploded in Hua Hin, killing one person and wounding four, according to police.

 

Another pair of bombs exploded in front of two police stations half an hour apart in Surat Thani in southern Thailand.

 

Earlier Thursday, another bomb blew up in the southern province of Trang, killing one person and injuring six, according to Thai press reports.

 

Trang is on the fringes of Thailand's deep south, where a low-level Muslim separatist insurgency had killed more than 5,000 people since 2004. Almost all the violence has been in the three southernmost provinces.

 

Thailand has been plagued by political violence, including several bombings, since the populist billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 military coup after demonstrations accused him of corruption, abuse of power and insulting King Bhumibol.

 

Thaksin's ouster set off sometimes bloody battles for power between his supporters and opponents, who include the military. The government of his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was ousted in the country's last coup in 2014.

 

On Sunday, Thai voters approved a referendum on a new constitution that is supposed to lead to an election next year. Critics say it is undemocratic and is fashioned to keep the military in control for at least five more years even if a free election is held.

 

In a speech Wednesday night, junta chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took credit for bringing stability back to Thailand after an extended period of unrest.

 

Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a junta spokesman, said Prayuth "expressed his sadness over the unexpected and tragic incident (in Hua Hin)" and said ordered police and soldiers in the area to step up security measures.

___

Pitman reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalists Tassanee Vejpongsa, Grant Peck and Vicky Ge Huang in Bangkok, and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-12

[theguyfromanotherforum]

phew

[Usernames]

Well, dont know about you, but I'm convinced.

[Kwasaki]

[taony]

These guys are good.  Envy of the world.  I have total faith in them.

[nakhonsi sean]

So obviously linked to the Southern terrorists.

[Lukecan]

They're right probably, if it was islamic terrorism it would happen in KSR at a peak time.  These bombs look more like attacks to scare people from coming to Thailand and ruin the tourism industry.  Looks politically motivated, probably done by red shirts.

Edited August 12, 2016 by Lukecan

[Chicog]

Yes, and because it's red shirts it's not 'linked to terrorism' then.

 

[clifric]

The bombs have all been set off in places directly linked by the southern leg of AH2 - does that give a clue as to where the setters originated?

 

[Clamhua]

If it's not Islamic based it must be red shirt based...or?

Edited August 12, 2016 by Clamhua
Grammar correction

[Sphere]

Actually, those weren't explosions - just loud spontaneous energetic disassembly of objects.

 

[webfact]

International terrorism ruled out in bomb attacks in five provinces

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police late today ruled out international terrorism in a series of bomb explosions in five provinces today.

 

It said it was a “local sabotage” as all targets were limited in certain areas of tourist attractions, and no evidence of international limited was found.”

 

Police have detained some suspects in both Hua Hin and Trang blasts and are interrogating them, the spokesman said.

 

“It is different from international terrorism but local sabotage aimed to destroy the country’s tourism atmosphere,” declared a police spokesman at a press conference today.

 

He said if it was international terrorism, the country would be informed in advance of the attempt.

But there was no warning of these attempts.

 

Besides all targets were limited only to tourist spots, he said.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/175937-2/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-12

 

[pookiki]

Certainly it is too early to know who is responsible. However, the vote in the three southern provinces overwhelmingly rejected the draft constitution which was followed by some less than thoughtful statements by the regime. The regime has done its best to cover-up military abuses in the south and has jailed human rights activists who have reported on it.

[Franky Bear]

I've no idea what the cause is (like every single "expert" on here) But the Government will do everything to avoid using the words "terror attack" as that changes the dynamic of so many factors from those on the outside looking in, especially tourists. 

To me personally it doesn't matter who let these bombs off, it is a terror attack. You don't let a bomb off anywhere to do anything other than terrorise those in the area.

[trogers]

THE size of explosives employed look similar to those bombings when Yingluk was still PM...

[sujoop]

All the hallmarks of the various blasts since new years of 2006 after Thaksin was ousted. Now referendum win plus sis in the dock for rice scams and here we are.

[SgtRock]

Quote

He said if it was international terrorism, the country would be informed in advance of the attempt.

But there was no warning of these attempts.

 

Stupidity personified.

 

No more needs to be said.

[Franky Bear]

3 minutes ago, sujoop said:

All the hallmarks of the various blasts since new years of 2006 after Thaksin was ousted. Now referendum win plus sis in the dock for rice scams and here we are.

It's certainly an angle to look at. But you could also take on board that the simplicity of the making of such a device means it could be anyone.

[MobileContent]

I am also not convinced that it was the Southern terrorists and still feel it is political motivated but whoever that was they are TERRORISTS.

[Lukecan]

I don't think there is international involvement either, 8 simulatanous attacks is not worth it in Thailand for ISIS, they'd rather do it in France/Germany etc. There is def local involvement in this. 

Edited August 12, 2016 by Lukecan

[Franky Bear]

2 minutes ago, SgtRock said:

 

Stupidity personified.

 

No more needs to be said.

I was going to reply...you got it right...nothing more needs said.

[ubonjoe]

A post containing graphic images of the injured has been removed.

[djjamie]

All Thai's love to jump the gun and say "We have no idea who did it, but we do know who didn't do it"!

[Laughing Out Loud]

If the perpetrators are carrying thier cell phones, which I guess the most likely are, the secret police will know exactly who they are in the next few days.  Geez if you are going to terrorize thailand and expect not to get caught, leave your cell phone at home!  

[robblok]

17 minutes ago, Lukecan said:

I don't think there is international involvement either, 8 simulatanous attacks is not worth it in Thailand for ISIS, they'd rather do it in France/Germany etc. There is def local involvement in this. 

Its also highly unlikely ISIS could pull this off. I mean 8 of those attacks.. and without too many dead and injured. I just don't think so. That just leaves 2 possibilities guess we will have to wait to find out. 

[clockman]

So if it was international terrorism they would have been warned? Why? The rest of the world is not warned!

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, clockman said:

So if it was international terrorism they would have been warned? Why? The rest of the world is not warned!

 

No but ISIS is usually quick to claim such things... I havent heard them claim anything yet. 

[Nicolas32]

"Police have already detained the first persons suspected of preparing and organizing the explosions. I cannot give more specific information at this time," a police spokesman said in a statement broadcast by several local TV channels.

 

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160812/1044187070/thailand-explosions-police.html

[tomacht8]

Until now, the police do not know who is responsible.

Everything else is only pure speculation

[SgtRock]

9 minutes ago, Laughing Out Loud said:

If the perpetrators are carrying thier cell phones, which I guess the most likely are, the secret police will know exactly who they are in the next few days.  Geez if you are going to terrorize thailand and expect not to get caught, leave your cell phone at home!  

 

Gonna go out on a limb here and make the assumption that the cell phones used for detonation were not registered to anyone.

 

Why would you guess that the perps would be carrying their cell phones ? The make up of the devices show a certain degree of professionalism, not something associated with idiots.