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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/aug/12/thailand-explosions-resort-towns-phuket-hua-hin
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| Thailand bombs: travel warnings as tourist resorts hit by fatal explosions – updates | Thailand bombs: travel warnings as tourist resorts hit by fatal explosions – updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.37am BST | |
| 06:37 | |
| 6.33am BST | |
| 06:33 | |
| Tourist Shane Brett has told the ABC in Australia he was in Hua Hin when the first explosion was heard. | |
| “I was at a bar in the main bar district in Hua Hin right outside the Hilton hotel and at first I heard kind of a bang ... and everyone kind of panicked,” Brett said. | |
| He looked outside the bar and said saw people running. Half an hour later, he made it back to his hotel. On the way, he said he saw “a good few people injured and the whole area just panicking ... the whole area was just shut down with police cars, ambulances.” | |
| 6.23am BST | |
| 06:23 | |
| What we know so far | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.39am BST | |
| 6.11am BST | |
| 06:11 | |
| The police have also just completely ruled out the insurgent groups from the south as being behind the attacks. They consider it a case of domestically inspired ‘local sabotage’ rather than terrorism from the south. | |
| They are holding another media conference in two hours. | |
| 6.06am BST | 6.06am BST |
| 06:06 | 06:06 |
| To give a sense of the span of these attacks, the resort town of Hua Hin is about 200km south of Bangkok. The southern provinces affected, such as Phuket, are about 850km south of the capital, or about an hour’s flight. | To give a sense of the span of these attacks, the resort town of Hua Hin is about 200km south of Bangkok. The southern provinces affected, such as Phuket, are about 850km south of the capital, or about an hour’s flight. |
| 6.01am BST | 6.01am BST |
| 06:01 | 06:01 |
| Death toll rises | Death toll rises |
| Reporter Adam Ramsey has the latest from a media conference the police have just held. They have confirmed four people have died in a series of bombings in the past 24 hours. | Reporter Adam Ramsey has the latest from a media conference the police have just held. They have confirmed four people have died in a series of bombings in the past 24 hours. |
| Two died on Thursday (one in the town of Hua Hin, one in Trang province). Two died in the second wave of attacks on Friday (one in Hua Hin, one in Surat Thani province) | Two died on Thursday (one in the town of Hua Hin, one in Trang province). Two died in the second wave of attacks on Friday (one in Hua Hin, one in Surat Thani province) |
| 5.54am BST | 5.54am BST |
| 05:54 | 05:54 |
| There are reports Hua Hin station was closed not simply as a precaution but because of ‘suspicious parcels’. We will keep you updated once we know more. My colleague Oliver Holmes is heading there soon. You will be able to follow updates from him on Twitter @olireports | There are reports Hua Hin station was closed not simply as a precaution but because of ‘suspicious parcels’. We will keep you updated once we know more. My colleague Oliver Holmes is heading there soon. You will be able to follow updates from him on Twitter @olireports |
| 11:08 EOD at Hua Hin railway station after suspicious parcels found. Station still closed (Via @kapookdotcom) pic.twitter.com/eV9MYkfa4p | 11:08 EOD at Hua Hin railway station after suspicious parcels found. Station still closed (Via @kapookdotcom) pic.twitter.com/eV9MYkfa4p |
| 5.45am BST | 5.45am BST |
| 05:45 | 05:45 |
| Security is being stepped up at Phuket international airport, according to Thai PBS news. | Security is being stepped up at Phuket international airport, according to Thai PBS news. |
| This follows the prime minister’s orders to tighten security across landmarks and public places popular with tourists. | This follows the prime minister’s orders to tighten security across landmarks and public places popular with tourists. |
| 5.42am BST | 5.42am BST |
| 05:42 | 05:42 |
| The blasts this morning at Hua Hin took place at its clock tower following a short ceremony to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and Mother’s Day in Thailand. | The blasts this morning at Hua Hin took place at its clock tower following a short ceremony to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and Mother’s Day in Thailand. |
| The event included Buddhist collection of alms and ended around 8am. The two explosions occurred, in succession, about an hour later. | The event included Buddhist collection of alms and ended around 8am. The two explosions occurred, in succession, about an hour later. |
| 5.36am BST | 5.36am BST |
| 05:36 | 05:36 |
| No group has yet claimed responsibility, however, analysts have pointed out taht Muslim insurgent groups in the south have for years been fighting the Thai state. | No group has yet claimed responsibility, however, analysts have pointed out taht Muslim insurgent groups in the south have for years been fighting the Thai state. |
| Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military, said Malay-Muslim insurgent groups from the south were prime suspects in the blasts. | Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military, said Malay-Muslim insurgent groups from the south were prime suspects in the blasts. |
| “The attack on Hua Hin seems like a direct affront at the Kingdom of Thailand. Hua Hin is home to a royal palace ... also, the bombing comes on the queen’s birthday.” | “The attack on Hua Hin seems like a direct affront at the Kingdom of Thailand. Hua Hin is home to a royal palace ... also, the bombing comes on the queen’s birthday.” |
| Zachary Abuza, an expert on south-east Asian militant groups, said that although the southern insurgents had not carried out coordinated attacks for years, “it’s not that they haven’t or couldn’t, it’s just been a while”. | Zachary Abuza, an expert on south-east Asian militant groups, said that although the southern insurgents had not carried out coordinated attacks for years, “it’s not that they haven’t or couldn’t, it’s just been a while”. |
| “Whoever has perpetrated these wants to do serious damage to the Thai economy. That is where the junta is the most vulnerable.” | “Whoever has perpetrated these wants to do serious damage to the Thai economy. That is where the junta is the most vulnerable.” |
| 5.34am BST | 5.34am BST |
| 05:34 | 05:34 |
| 5.30am BST | 5.30am BST |
| 05:30 | 05:30 |
| The prime minister has called for calm but said he did not know who was behind the attacks. | The prime minister has called for calm but said he did not know who was behind the attacks. |
| “The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” Prayut is quoted by AFP as saying. “We should not make people panic more.” | “The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” Prayut is quoted by AFP as saying. “We should not make people panic more.” |
| “Why have the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism – and who did it? You have to find out,” he added. | “Why have the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism – and who did it? You have to find out,” he added. |
| 5.28am BST | 5.28am BST |
| 05:28 | 05:28 |
| PM issues 'emergency orders' | PM issues 'emergency orders' |
| Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security to be increased across urban areas and areas popular with tourists. | Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security to be increased across urban areas and areas popular with tourists. |
| Government spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said: “The PM has issued emergency orders to the relevant agencies in the areas to prevent other bombing incidents from happening again, increase the security in the crowd areas, and appoint those who are responsible to handle the situation in an emergency event.” | Government spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said: “The PM has issued emergency orders to the relevant agencies in the areas to prevent other bombing incidents from happening again, increase the security in the crowd areas, and appoint those who are responsible to handle the situation in an emergency event.” |
| 5.21am BST | 5.21am BST |
| 05:21 | 05:21 |
| Further bombings | Further bombings |
| We are getting reports of more blasts in the past 90 minutes. The permanent secretary of Thailand’s Interior Ministry just confirmed three bombings this morning in the southern province Phang Nga, which neighbours Phuket. The timings are not yet exact: around 10am for the first two, then around 10.30am for the third. No injuries have been reported. | We are getting reports of more blasts in the past 90 minutes. The permanent secretary of Thailand’s Interior Ministry just confirmed three bombings this morning in the southern province Phang Nga, which neighbours Phuket. The timings are not yet exact: around 10am for the first two, then around 10.30am for the third. No injuries have been reported. |
| 5.18am BST | 5.18am BST |
| 05:18 | 05:18 |
| The Spanish and British governments have advised travellers to avoid public places and exercise caution. Hua Hin and Phuket province are of course popular with tourists, especially from Europe, with beaches, surf, night markets and the red light district all drawcards | The Spanish and British governments have advised travellers to avoid public places and exercise caution. Hua Hin and Phuket province are of course popular with tourists, especially from Europe, with beaches, surf, night markets and the red light district all drawcards |
| Residentes y turistas en #Tailandia, manteneos alerta, evitad aglomeraciones y lugares públicos y extremad la precaución. | Residentes y turistas en #Tailandia, manteneos alerta, evitad aglomeraciones y lugares públicos y extremad la precaución. |
| 5.12am BST | 5.12am BST |
| 05:12 | 05:12 |
| The situation is still far from clear, but the town of Hua Hin appears to be most affected, with two sets of explosions. Its train station and cinema have been closed. | The situation is still far from clear, but the town of Hua Hin appears to be most affected, with two sets of explosions. Its train station and cinema have been closed. |
| Update: This is what I am tracking now in #Thailand. Lots of questions, few answers. pic.twitter.com/zkJOZvh8kd | Update: This is what I am tracking now in #Thailand. Lots of questions, few answers. pic.twitter.com/zkJOZvh8kd |
| 5.03am BST | 5.03am BST |
| 05:03 | 05:03 |
| A series of apparently coordinated blasts has hit tourist towns in southern Thailand. Three people are reported dead so far and at least 19 have been injured. | A series of apparently coordinated blasts has hit tourist towns in southern Thailand. Three people are reported dead so far and at least 19 have been injured. |
| The bombings have come in two waves: one on Thursday night and a second on Friday morning. There are fears there may be more devices, with reports two more may have been defused. | The bombings have come in two waves: one on Thursday night and a second on Friday morning. There are fears there may be more devices, with reports two more may have been defused. |
| Here is what we know so far. We will keep you updated as events unfold | Here is what we know so far. We will keep you updated as events unfold |
| Related: Thailand bomb blasts: three dead as tourist hotspots hit by series of explosions | Related: Thailand bomb blasts: three dead as tourist hotspots hit by series of explosions |