Seven Bombs Go Off In Bangkok - New Year Countdown Cancelled

[londonthai]

if it's not southerners than it's inside security services job - there is no political group in thailand in opposition to government which uses violence

[razino]

Calm down....and take precautions...whatever necessary...

[Jai Dee]

Emergency medical service staff at Rajchavithee Hospital tend to a wounded person following a bomb attack at nearby Victory Monument.

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

[kayo]

Good attitude Money Shot, in both your posts here.

I'd be right there with you if I was in BKK. (you er.. do still carry that big gun, don't you...just in case we spot suspicious people... )

To BKK... Sadly, it was only a matter of time. If not the insurgents, then toxin's crew... Whoever is doing this, it is disgraceful, distasteful, and a major loss of face for those responsable.

[britmaveric]

CNN is hyping this out worldwide right now. So much for tourism this year. A ton of crazy things going on now: stock mkt crashes, currency controls, bombs, what next? Why would anyone choose this as a vacation spot?

Love of Thailand!!!

[andy1308]

CNN is hyping this out worldwide right now. So much for tourism this year. A ton of crazy things going on now: stock mkt crashes, currency controls, bombs, what next? Why would anyone choose this as a vacation spot?

Agreed - 'bombs rip through Bangkok' was their initial headline unless I am mistaken. It's still too early to assess what has actually happened - but I think that headline is totally over the top from what appears to have happened so far.

[OxfordWill]

The timing is curious.. it seems like they set bombs off before the night really began, so is it just a way to try and ruin celebrations without actually killing too many people?

If you wanted to kill people, you would wait until at least 11.

[razino]

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 yearend.

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

The Nation

[Jai Dee]

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 yearend.

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

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

[andy1308]

BBC - BANGKOK HIT BY SERIES OF BLASTS

At least 12 people have been hurt in a series of small bomb blasts in the Thai capital, Bangkok, police say.

The blasts took place within 90 minutes of each other, with the first one at the Victory Monument in the centre.

Further explosions were reported at two police posts in Bangkok's northern suburbs and in the Klong Tuey area.

Thailand's prime minister was ousted in a military coup in September while the country's south has seen a wave of attacks blamed on Muslim separatists.

Police are investigating suspicious packages found at another six locations in the capital, a police spokesman told the iTV television network.

The blasts took place in widely-dispersed locations in the late afternoon, as the Thai capital was preparing to celebrate the New Year.

The bomb outside the Victory Monument appeared to have caused the most injuries, police said.

According to the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok, the explosions do not appear to have had a specific target.

A police spokesman told the BBC the blasts were being treated as an internal matter - implying that they did not suspect any link to Muslim insurgents in the south.

Our correspondent says many Thais suspect the bombs were the work of opponents of the current military government, which forced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office.

He says bombs are rare in the Thai capital and security is largely relaxed.

[roamer]

CNN is hyping this out worldwide right now. So much for tourism this year. A ton of crazy things going on now: A military coup, tanks in the streets, martial law, stock mkt crashes, currency controls, bombs, what next? Why would anyone choose this as a vacation spot? Soon we'll get the moron poster who says that tourism will race ahead regardless of all this insanity

OK, count me in as your first moron.

[Jai Dee]

TRT denies masterminding bombs

The Thai Rak Thai Party was not behind the series of bombs that rocked Bangkok last night, said the party deputy speaker Chatuphon Promphan.

Chatuporn warned the Council for National Security (CNS) not to prematurely point fingers at the party, whose administration was ousted by the coup makers on September 19.

"We urge the CNS to speedily find out the facts before any misunderstanding is widely spread," Chatuporn said a few hours after the first blasts.

"The bombs can be looked at from different angles and a political cause is just one of them. It could also be seen as a challenge to the CNS and could stem from the spread of the conflict in the three southernmost provinces."

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

[November Rain]

At this moment, who is responsible is a moot point (but let's hope they get them!). What is important is that people with hopes & dreams for the future are dead & injured. Some expecting a happy new year will never see 2007. My prayers go to the dead & injured & their families. And all of you in BKK, keep safe tonight.

[NovaBlue05]

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...

Yes...and as usual, premature and inappropriate

[Griffin]

Thaksin cronies doesn't sound right. What would they expect? The new gov to say "oh! crap. Lets get Thaksin back in."

My money is on the followers of Islam. Is it a leap of faith? No. We can see what they do all over the world. Bombs are a classic way for them to express themselves.

A friend suggested that the new gov may have done it to keep people home as the ban on gatherings is still in place. I laughed at first. Then thought "wait a minute.........."

Edited December 31, 2006 by Griffin

[columbo]

I just heard a loud explosion near soi 5 suk. probably a very loud firework. morons were cheering afterwards as well. great time for very loud fireworks. retards

[britmaveric]

More sinister - be perfect way to discredit Thaskin and the opposition, by laying blame on them by using terrorist tactics.

[LifeConvo]

It is no use speculating on who is behind this, far far too early to tell.

Could be any group with a grudge.

[jinjok]

this is really fantastic - thai rak thai < already fingers pointing and already have pat denial. i would love to know what avg educated thai believes.

there is much more underneath bubbling ever upward - its starting to look VERY much like political insider job. all thru this post not a mention from thai media svcs that muslims are involved but they are seemingly implicate all sorts of political actors. they know much more than are fed.

[markuk]

seems to be a lot of changing information, usual premature reporting in confusion in the day of the internet!

Will not be until tommorow till be get some acurate reports i expect, just watching thai tv news seem to be running pics of the same locations!

[NovaBlue05]

Finally....A voice of reason...

[markuk]

I just heard a loud explosion near soi 5 suk. probably a very loud firework. morons were cheering afterwards as well. great time for very loud fireworks. retards

well they are probably farangs who have not idea what has happened. Or are you calling them morons for just having fireworls?

[lopburi3]

The activities at Central World have finished and those that had gathered there are leaving.

[Jai Dee]

Sonthi orders deployment of soldiers to step up security in Bangkok

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin ordered the first army area commander to deploy soldiers to help police step security in Bangkok following a series of bomb attacks in the capital.

Army Assistant Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said the soldiers would be deployed to various spots and bomb experts of the army had been ordered to be on stand by.

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

[Buki]

I just heard a loud explosion near soi 5 suk. probably a very loud firework. morons were cheering afterwards as well. great time for very loud fireworks. retards

I guess they were having a "blast".

[Jai Dee]

The activities at Central World have finished and those that had gathered there are leaving.

Revellers at Central World ordered to disperse

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin went up on the stage at the Central World Plaza at about 8:50 pm and asked the revellers to disperse.

They dispersed after paying respect to His Majesty the King.

People were seen on Channel 6 to disperse calmly.

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

[newworks]

muslims or thaksin supporters, but i seriously doubt the latter.

[Jonson83]

More sinister - be perfect way to discredit Thaskin and the opposition, by laying blame on them by using terrorist tactics.

yes ofcourse,thaksins popularity was sky high before tonight!

[LaoPo]

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 yearend.

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

Source: The Nation - 31 December 2006

Hard to believe the 'old power clique' is behind the bombings as it would be stupid and harm their possible future political plans immensely.

And, how come the Government (PM Surayud) 'expected' these bombings ....?

If they know already who was behind the attacks within a few hours (and expected the attacks), why didn't they do something before it happened ?

Odd and strange.

LaoPo

[londonthai]

not necessarily to discredit thaksin - but to step up crash on political opposition, including popular opposition from the working classes