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Bangkok explosion: fatal blast outside Erawan shrine Bangkok explosion: fatal blast outside Erawan shrine
(35 minutes later)
A bomb has exploded outside a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok, killing at least 16 people and wounding scores more, according to police in the Thai capital. A bomb has exploded outside a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok, killing at least 16 people and wounding scores more.
Body parts and mangled scooters were scattered across the street after the explosion outside the Erawan shrine in the central Chidlom district. Body parts and mangled scooters were scattered across the street after the explosion outside the Erawan shrine in the central Chidlom district of the Thai capital.
A spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta said a second bomb at the scene had been found and made safe.
Related: Bangkok bombing: 16 killed in blast near Hindu shrine – live updatesRelated: Bangkok bombing: 16 killed in blast near Hindu shrine – live updates
Police told Agence France-Press (AFP) that 16 people had been killed in the blast, which happened at about 7pm local time (12noon GMT). Thai media said most of the dead and injured were from China or Taiwan.Police told Agence France-Press (AFP) that 16 people had been killed in the blast, which happened at about 7pm local time (12noon GMT). Thai media said most of the dead and injured were from China or Taiwan.
“The death toll is now 16,” police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP, while an emergency medical centre said more than 80 people were injured.“The death toll is now 16,” police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP, while an emergency medical centre said more than 80 people were injured.
Dozens of ambulances were at the scene and a nearby metro station has been closed. There were unconfirmed reports in Thai media that the death toll has reached at least 27, including four foreigners. There were unconfirmed reports in Thai media that the death toll has reached at least 27, including four foreigners.
Dozens of ambulances were at the scene and a nearby metro station has been closed. Medics and police formed a line at the large intersection and walked slowly forward, looking for any debris from the blast.
The explosion was large enough to throw a metre-wide chunk of metal to a third-floor balcony on the other side of the street, about 50 metres away. Human body parts lay on the road and medics were still picking them up two hours after the blast.
Related: Bangkok bomb – in picturesRelated: Bangkok bomb – in pictures
“It was a bomb, I think it was inside a motorcycle … it was very big, look at the bodies,” one visibly shocked rescue volunteer, who did not want to be named, told AFP. “It was a bomb; I think it was inside a motorcycle … it was very big, look at the bodies,” one shocked rescue volunteer, who did not want to be named, told AFP.
A spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta said a second bomb at the scene had been found and made safe. One medic at the scene told the Guardian: “Some people died here, some people died at hospital.” He said he had arrived shortly after the blast and was waiting to be of assistance.
Thanapon Peng, 25, passed the site on a motorbike taxi moments after the blast.Thanapon Peng, 25, passed the site on a motorbike taxi moments after the blast.
“I saw glass. I saw some organs of people on the road. I don’t know how many people there were,” he told the Guardian in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt hotel, where tourists and Thais have been waiting until they get the all clear to leave. “I saw glass. I saw some organs of people on the road. I don’t know how many people there were,” he told the Guardian in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt hotel, where tourists and Thai people have been waiting until they are told it is safe to leave.
“I heard that about 80 people are wounded but we don’t know how many died.”“I heard that about 80 people are wounded but we don’t know how many died.”
Police with torches have been looking under bushes and walking the grounds of the nearby police station in an apparent effort to search for other bombs. Police with torches have been looking under bushes and walking the grounds of the nearby police station in an apparent search for other bombs.
A long line of ambulances has formed outside a hospital located close to the blast site, so many of the injured are being taken to medical centres further away. A long line of ambulances has formed outside a hospital located close to the blast site. Many of the injured are being taken to medical centres further away.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Thai forces are fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the south of the predominantly Buddhist country, although those rebels have rarely launched attacks outside their ethnic Malay heartland.There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Thai forces are fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the south of the predominantly Buddhist country, although those rebels have rarely launched attacks outside their ethnic Malay heartland.
The Nation TV channel quoted the Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying the government would set up a “war room” to coordinate its response. The defence minister Prawit Wongsuwong said: “It was a TNT bomb … the people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy.” The Nation TV channel quoted the Thai prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, as saying the government would set up a “war room” to coordinate its response.
The defence minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, told Reuters that “the perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism”.
The country has also been riven for a decade by intense and sometimes violent rivalry between political factions in Bangkok and elsewhere.The country has also been riven for a decade by intense and sometimes violent rivalry between political factions in Bangkok and elsewhere.
The army has ruled Thailand since May 2014, when it ousted an elected government after months of, at times, violent anti-government protests.The army has ruled Thailand since May 2014, when it ousted an elected government after months of, at times, violent anti-government protests.
The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres and offices, is a major tourist attraction, especially for visitors from east Asia. Many Thai people worship there.The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres and offices, is a major tourist attraction, especially for visitors from east Asia. Many Thai people worship there.
The shrine intersection was the site of months of anti-government protests in 2010 by supporters of the ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Dozens were killed in a military crackdown and a shopping centre was set ablaze.The shrine intersection was the site of months of anti-government protests in 2010 by supporters of the ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Dozens were killed in a military crackdown and a shopping centre was set ablaze.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this reportAgence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report
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