Seven Bombs Go Off In Bangkok - New Year Countdown Cancelled

[Jonson83]

quite odd if this was a muslim incident that the ksr area was not targeted. one, it has so many people. two it has throngs of isrealis. next, i find it curious that there does not appear to be any bombing in the south. third, it is further curious that a few months back taksin buddy was found w/ a 'bomb' on his way to ??? taksins house (or so taksin would like you to believe). finally, like bush&co this could be an excuse for junta to cling to power AND make it more palatable for financial markets to swallow.

i hope the authorities have enogh balls and intelligence to shake this out.

Yes maybe you have a point.

But these idiots are not stupid enough to actually target tourists,the KSR would have been attacked years ago if this were the case.The Thai military response would be incredibly brutal.Thats why they have not targeted tourists in the past(The canadian teacher in hat ya was in the wrong place at the wrong time)

Still,it really isn't clear who has done this.People shouldn't jump to conclusions.

[JetsetBkk]

SMS from BangkokPost news service:

Police advise people in Bangkok to stay home after at least six bombs exploded in Bangkok, killing one people (sic) and injuring dozens of people.

We were going to go down to the night bazzar at Suan Lum but we're now in 2 minds.

Sad stuff.

Good idea. Better to be in two minds than several pieces.

[amigoro]

Pics from Victory Monument

Report from Victory Monument. Shops are closing. Police told us not to go to any of the department stores. Otherwise, everything seems calm enough.

[raro]

The reflexive Muslim-bashing in this thread is truly distasteful.

The identities of the perpetrators of these acts and their motives have not yet been established.

Muslims have been mentioned only once and only specualtive. Not sure what you try to say!

[MrSnrang]

The reflexive Muslim-bashing in this thread is truly distasteful.

The identities of the perpetrators of these acts and their motives have not yet been established.

You sound like one of those people after 9/11 who would not admit they thought it was a bunch of Arabs in the mountains with AK-47s and a copy of the Koran even though everyone around them knew it and so did you...

Happy new year.

[Jonson83]

The reflexive Muslim-bashing in this thread is truly distasteful.

The identities of the perpetrators of these acts and their motives have not yet been established.

Muslims have been mentioned only once and only specualtive. Not sure what you try to say!

He was waiting to say it.He had it in his mind before he had even read the posts...lol

liberal mindset...

[LifeConvo]

I have just got a report from a freind that another bomb exploded at RCA ten minutes ago.

[george]

New Yew Countdown cancelled

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.

--The Nation 2006-12-31

[britmaveric]

I have just got a report from a freind that another bomb exploded at RCA ten minutes ago.

Uh oh - heads gonna roll if thats true!!!!

[freitag1]

I go out no matter what...

[thaihome]

Just had friends return from night bazaar at Suan Lum, it is open but emptying fast.

Best idea is stay in.

I do wish the political speculating would stop or start your own thread (hopefully, on a different forum)

TH

[bulmercke]

BBC news reporting that the police consider this to be an "internal matter" which probably discounts the perpetrators being southern separatists.

Also, notice how most, if not all, of the explosions were within walking distance of sky-train and underground stations.

A bit early for speculation.....but opponents of the CNS.....most likely attackers. i.e. supporters loyal to Thaksin.

Edited December 31, 2006 by bulmercke

[LifeConvo]

I only hope they don't have something special planned for midnight, I was gona go out, but I'm seriously questioning that now.

If I do, I'll be staying well away from popular areas.

[Amethyst]

Any news about RCA areas ?

[King Dong]

3 people dead in all of BKK, you have more chance of being hit by a new year pissed up bus/car driver...

[triplegee]

3 people dead in all of BKK, you have more chance of being hit by a new year pissed up bus/car driver...

Still 3 too many.

And the "chances" have gone up in the last hour or so....

[Thaising]

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has asked people to refrain from joining crowded new year party following at least seven bomb attacks in Bangkok.

Thai New Agency quoted Surayud as asking people wishing to join new year party on Sunday night to avoid crowded areas.

The premier has ordered all security officers; police and soldiers, to reinforce in many areas in Bangkok. He ordered crime scene inspectors to collect all evidences from the attack scenes in order to know which groups mastermind the attacks.

[qualtrough]

The failure of the communists to make much progress during the 70 and 80s has been attributed by some to their decision not to carry out their struggle in Bangkok. If these bombings do turn out to be the work of southern separatists then it will mean that they have decided not to make the same mistake. Too early to know, and it could well be the same people burning schools in the NE that some link to Taksin supporters.

[Thaising]

Old power clique suspected of being behind Bangkok bomb attacks: source

A security source at the Government House said the old power clique was behind the simultaneous bomb attacks in Bangkok.

The source from an intelligence agency said the intelligence agencies had learnt about the plan of the old clique to create disturbance toward the year end.

The source said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was on the standby in Bangkok because he expected the attacks.

The Nation

[andy1308]

The Police Commander is on TV right now addressing a Press Conference, and has said that the Central World celebrations will be going on, although security will obviously be much tighter.

[tessadog]

So what is the sentence that these terrorists can expect if caught? Death or a slap on the wrists. I just spoke to friends in Bangkok and they are all going to party at home. Good idea.

[george]

ITV now confirms two dead.

Picture just in from the news feed:

[JacknDanny]

Hey Im no Muslim lover, but the Police boss on Tv right now is saying it is NOT from the insurgants in the South

[loong]

Peace and Goodwill to all men

Why can't these maniacs take a holiday.

[julie_f]

520 user reading this topic. Doesn't sound like many people are out now.

[Jai Dee]

Rash of bombs hits Bangkok, 20 wounded

BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least six small bombs have exploded in Bangkok, wounding more than 20 people, police said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombs, which went off within about an hour and included one planted under a seat at a bus stop outside a shopping mall which wounded 15 people, two seriously, they said.

"There was a big bang and people started screaming and running. I saw people with blood all over their legs and faces," said Chalermsak Sanbee, 17, who was standing near the bus stop.

Another went off near a police booth, wounding two people, and a third was placed in a trash can at a market in the port district and wounded five, including a 10-year-old child, police said.

The bomb outside the shopping mall near the Victory Monument in the center of the Thai capital appeared to have caused the largest number of injuries, they said.

Another went off in the parking lot of a shopping mall on the road to Bangkok's new airport and police closed the center down, but plans for the New Year countdown in the city's main shopping district were going ahead with increased security.

Militants in the Muslim-majority three southern provinces of Thailand near the Malaysian border have used the tactic of setting of a series of bombs over a short space of time in towns in the region.

They are not known to have launched attacks outside the region so far despite constant fears they would.

More than 1,800 people have been killed in the latest separatist insurgency in the far south, where most people speak a Malay dialect, since it erupted on January 4 2004.

Source: Reuters - 31 December 2006

[george]

PM asks people to avoid crowded parties

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has asked people to refrain from joining crowded new year party following at least seven bomb attacks in Bangkok.

Thai New Agency quoted Surayud as asking people wishing to join new year party on Sunday night to avoid crowded areas.

The premier has ordered all security officers; police and soldiers, to reinforce in many areas in Bangkok. He ordered crime scene inspectors to collect all evidences from the attack scenes in order to know which groups mastermind the attacks.

Seven explosives went off almost simultaneously in Bangkok, killing two and injuring at least 20 people, as the revellers were about to start celebrating the New Year's eve.

One people were killed and 20 injured at the Victory Monument when a powerful bomb went off near a bus station at about 6.30 pm. The bomb ripped through the bus stops, shattered windows at the nearby restaurant and sending debris in all directions.

Another person was killed near the Klong Toei area near the Na Ranong intersection, around the same time, a bomb hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine exploded and injured three pedestrians. The explosion caused a secondary explosion to a number of cookinggas cylinders that were situated nearby.

One person was seriously injured near the Big C supermarket at the Sapan Kwai branch where witnesses saw a man dropped a grenade from a pedestrian bridge onto the police box. Residue of C4 and TNT were found at the scene, an iTV reporter said, quoting an unnamed military source.

At the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, a loud explosion went off at the parking space, creating a panic but no injury. Authorities ordered all shoppers, about 10,000 at the time, to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok largest, and all shops to close down for business.

A police box at the entrance of Sukhumvit Road, Soi 62 was also hit with a bomb. No injury was reported.

Another police box was hit near the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi province just north of Bangkok with a bomb but not injury reported said Police spokesman Pol General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj said.

A bomb went off in the compound of the Tesco Lotus Supermarket at the Prachachuen branch.

Soldiers were dispatched to some of the sites where the bombs went off, while other major shopping complex, including the Central Chidlom and Siam Paragon department stores, closed its door earlier.

Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.

-- The Nation 2006-12-31

[andy1308]

Sadly this will be another reason for people outside Thailand to look at the kingdom and decide not to travel/invest, certainly in the short term. I have a friend in the travel business and she is already fielding calls from worried clients wanting to cancel and postpone their plans. Regardless of who is responsible, the damage will be the same and is already starting to happen.

That's not to take away from the deaths and/or injuries in any way - they are bad enough on their own.

[lopburi3]

This is a serious news item - please keep posts out of the speculation and accusation modes. Thanks.

((A number of off language posts have been removed))

[britmaveric]

Too early to rule any groups out I'm afraid.