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Explosion in Bangkok Kills at Least 12 Bangkok Blast at Religious Shrine Kills at Least 16
(about 1 hour later)
BANGKOK — At least 12 people were killed at a major intersection in Bangkok on Monday night after an explosion shook the neighborhood. The blast occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, an important tourist attraction in the city’s main shopping district. BANGKOK — A bomb hidden inside a Bangkok religious shrine frequented by tourists exploded Monday evening, killing at least 16 people, hurling body parts onto the pavement, shattering building windows and creating panic in one of the city’s most popular districts.
The police discovered at least two additional unexploded bombs inside the shrine and said other bombs may have been placed in the area, yelling at bystanders: “Get out! Get out!”
The blast occurred at the Erawan Shrine, an important tourist attraction in the city’s main shopping area.
Debris and at least five motorcycles were scattered in the intersection near the shrine as dozens of emergency vehicles arrived on the scene. Bloodstains smattered a nearby shopping mall, an indication of the force of the blast.
Some news accounts said an explosive device had detonated on one of the wrecked motorcycles, which was on fire, but the force of the shrine bomb may have caused the motorcycle to appear to have detonated as well.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions.
The Thai authorities placed white cloths over parts of bodies ripped apart by the explosion at the Ratchaprasong intersection, the same area where a protest that stretched for months was dispersed by the military in 2010.The Thai authorities placed white cloths over parts of bodies ripped apart by the explosion at the Ratchaprasong intersection, the same area where a protest that stretched for months was dispersed by the military in 2010.
Debris and at least five motorcycles were scattered in the intersection as dozens of emergency vehicles arrived on the scene.
Charoen Sida, 37, a security guard who was preparing to start a 7 p.m. shift at a shopping mall next to the site, witnessed the immediate aftermath.Charoen Sida, 37, a security guard who was preparing to start a 7 p.m. shift at a shopping mall next to the site, witnessed the immediate aftermath.
“Everyone was screaming and running,” he said. “There was a huge fire coming from a motorcycle. No one dared to go into the intersection.”“Everyone was screaming and running,” he said. “There was a huge fire coming from a motorcycle. No one dared to go into the intersection.”
An hour after the blast, security personnel announced that a bomb had been discovered in the area and was being defused. They shouted to a crowd of onlookers, “Get out! Get out!”
Thailand has been under military rule since May 2014, and a number of explosions have been reported since the army seized control. However, none have been this powerful. Many windows in the shopping mall were blown out.Thailand has been under military rule since May 2014, and a number of explosions have been reported since the army seized control. However, none have been this powerful. Many windows in the shopping mall were blown out.
Bloodstains reached the second story of one of the shopping malls in the vicinity, a measure of the power of the explosion. Winai Petploy, a rescue worker who arrived to carry away the remains of the dead, said authorities discovered two unexploded bombs inside the Erawan Shrine after he had arrived. The bombs were in small travel bags. The device that detonated was also inside the shrine.
Bodies were torn apart by the blast. “I carried one out and then I carried the other half out,” he said.
A police officer at the scene said authorities were focused on a possible suspect who was seen arriving at the shrine around 15 minutes before the explosion. She placed a bag at the shrine and then left. The officer, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the woman was overheard speaking Thai.
More than two hours after the blast, police led teams of dogs through the area in a search for further explosives.
The Erawan is a Hindu shrine popular with both Thais and foreign tourists, especially ethnic Chinese visitors from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, among other East Asian nations. The shrine is believed to hold mystical powers and those who pray for good fortune include students, job seekers and couples who have trouble conceiving.
In 2006 a man described by authorities as deranged was beaten to death after he partly destroyed the shrine.