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| Bangkok bomb: Deadly blast rocks Thailand capital | Bangkok bomb: Deadly blast rocks Thailand capital |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A bomb has exploded close to a shrine in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 120. | A bomb has exploded close to a shrine in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 120. |
| The Erawan Shrine, which was crowded at the time, is a major tourist attraction and foreigners, including Chinese, are among the casualties. | The Erawan Shrine, which was crowded at the time, is a major tourist attraction and foreigners, including Chinese, are among the casualties. |
| No-one has yet said they carried out the attack. | No-one has yet said they carried out the attack. |
| Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the bombers had "targeted foreigners... to damage tourism and the economy". | Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the bombers had "targeted foreigners... to damage tourism and the economy". |
| "We will hunt them down," he said. | "We will hunt them down," he said. |
| Bangkok blast: The events of the day | Bangkok blast: The events of the day |
| Images from the scene | |
| The Nation TV channel quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying the government would set up a "war room" to co-ordinate its response. | The Nation TV channel quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying the government would set up a "war room" to co-ordinate its response. |
| National police chief Somyot Poompummuang said that 10 Thais had been confirmed dead, along with one Chinese and one Filipino. | National police chief Somyot Poompummuang said that 10 Thais had been confirmed dead, along with one Chinese and one Filipino. |
| He said: "Whoever planted this bomb is cruel and aimed to kill. Planting a bomb there means they want to see a lot of people dead." | He said: "Whoever planted this bomb is cruel and aimed to kill. Planting a bomb there means they want to see a lot of people dead." |
| Thai police said 123 people had been injured. The government in Hong Kong said three of its residents were among those wounded. | Thai police said 123 people had been injured. The government in Hong Kong said three of its residents were among those wounded. |
| The explosion occurred at about 19:00 local time (12:00 GMT). | The explosion occurred at about 19:00 local time (12:00 GMT). |
| The Bangkok Post quoted police as saying that 3kg of TNT had been stuffed in a pipe inside the shrine and that an electronic circuit suspected to have been used in the attack was found 30 metres from the scene. | The Bangkok Post quoted police as saying that 3kg of TNT had been stuffed in a pipe inside the shrine and that an electronic circuit suspected to have been used in the attack was found 30 metres from the scene. |
| Police checked the area for other devices but no further bombs have been found, the paper said. | Police checked the area for other devices but no further bombs have been found, the paper said. |
| 'Really graphic' | 'Really graphic' |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, who was one of the first journalists at the scene, said there was a huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere. | The BBC's Jonathan Head, who was one of the first journalists at the scene, said there was a huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere. |
| He says this is a very well-known shrine, next to a five-star hotel, and that people around it were hit by the full force of the blast. | He says this is a very well-known shrine, next to a five-star hotel, and that people around it were hit by the full force of the blast. |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent | Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent |
| There is no previous history of attacks in the Thai capital on this scale or with such murderous intent. One possibility is that they might be the work of Malay-Muslim insurgents in the south who have been fighting Thai rule for more than a decade. However, they have never targeted Bangkok before and casualties from their attacks have been falling. | There is no previous history of attacks in the Thai capital on this scale or with such murderous intent. One possibility is that they might be the work of Malay-Muslim insurgents in the south who have been fighting Thai rule for more than a decade. However, they have never targeted Bangkok before and casualties from their attacks have been falling. |
| National political turmoil has prompted some low-level bomb attacks by rival factions in the past - but again, nothing on this scale. There also seem to be few, if any, links between Thai militants and groups like the so-called Islamic State. | National political turmoil has prompted some low-level bomb attacks by rival factions in the past - but again, nothing on this scale. There also seem to be few, if any, links between Thai militants and groups like the so-called Islamic State. |
| The shrine is popular with Chinese tourists and this raises at least the possibility of a connection to the Uighurs - a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority in the far west of China. They complain of cultural and religious persecution at the hands of the Beijing authorities. | The shrine is popular with Chinese tourists and this raises at least the possibility of a connection to the Uighurs - a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority in the far west of China. They complain of cultural and religious persecution at the hands of the Beijing authorities. |
| Last month more than 100 Uighurs were deported from Thailand to China - a move that prompted widespread condemnation. But while there are violent elements in the Uighur movement, an attack on this scale outside China would be unusual to say the least. | Last month more than 100 Uighurs were deported from Thailand to China - a move that prompted widespread condemnation. But while there are violent elements in the Uighur movement, an attack on this scale outside China would be unusual to say the least. |
| One bystander, Alessandro Ursic, told the BBC: "When I arrived they had already cleared the bodies from the ground outside the Erawan shrine but there were and there are still pieces of human flesh strewn around the intersection; it's really graphic." | One bystander, Alessandro Ursic, told the BBC: "When I arrived they had already cleared the bodies from the ground outside the Erawan shrine but there were and there are still pieces of human flesh strewn around the intersection; it's really graphic." |
| The BBC's James Sales said: "I went into where the shrine is, where there were lots of bodies. I saw at least nine people unfortunately who looked like they had died and lots of Chinese tourists as well. | The BBC's James Sales said: "I went into where the shrine is, where there were lots of bodies. I saw at least nine people unfortunately who looked like they had died and lots of Chinese tourists as well. |
| "I tried to administer CPR to one particular guy who was in his 40s... he was Chinese... but I doubt he made it." | "I tried to administer CPR to one particular guy who was in his 40s... he was Chinese... but I doubt he made it." |
| Bangkok explosion | Bangkok explosion |
| Eyewitness accounts of the blast - "There was total chaos" | Eyewitness accounts of the blast - "There was total chaos" |
| CCTV footage - captures the moment of the explosion | CCTV footage - captures the moment of the explosion |
| The Erawan Shrine - popular with locals and tourists | The Erawan Shrine - popular with locals and tourists |
| Mobile phone footage captures the blast | Mobile phone footage captures the blast |
| 'I gave one man CPR' says BBC man | 'I gave one man CPR' says BBC man |
| The shrine is dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma, but is also visited by thousands of Buddhists each day. There are also three major shopping centres nearby. | The shrine is dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma, but is also visited by thousands of Buddhists each day. There are also three major shopping centres nearby. |
| The explosion was on the Ratchaprasong intersection, which has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. | The explosion was on the Ratchaprasong intersection, which has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. |
| Our correspondent, Jonathan Head, says bomb attacks in Bangkok are extremely rare. | Our correspondent, Jonathan Head, says bomb attacks in Bangkok are extremely rare. |
| There has been a Muslim insurgency, but this has been largely confined to the south of the country and attacks rarely take place elsewhere. | There has been a Muslim insurgency, but this has been largely confined to the south of the country and attacks rarely take place elsewhere. |
| But Bangkok has seen a decade of sometimes violent rivalry between political factions. | But Bangkok has seen a decade of sometimes violent rivalry between political factions. |
| The military took over ruling the country in May last year, removing an elected government following months of unrest. The capital has been relatively calm since then. | The military took over ruling the country in May last year, removing an elected government following months of unrest. The capital has been relatively calm since then. |
| Analysts say one flashpoint could be within the military government itself. The annual promotion list is due out next month and it is thought to be a source of tension among the various cliques. | Analysts say one flashpoint could be within the military government itself. The annual promotion list is due out next month and it is thought to be a source of tension among the various cliques. |
| Are you in Bangkok? Did you witness what happened? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story and images but please stay safe. | Are you in Bangkok? Did you witness what happened? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story and images but please stay safe. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |