27 Killed in Bangkok Temple Blast

Posted on August 19, 2015 0 Comments19

August 18: 27 people, including four foreigners, were killed and over 80 others injured in a powerful bomb blast inside a hugely popular Lord Brahma temple in a crowded area on Monday in the first such attack in the Thai capital.

The blast, which the government believed was aimed at damaging economy and tourism, occurred inside Erawan Shrine dedicated to Lord Brahma in the downtown Chidlom district, creating panic as people fled the place where cars and motorcycles exploded in the impact.

The temple is located on a main road through Bangkok’s commercial hub and is surrounded by three major shopping malls and big hotels of international chains. It is among Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions visited by East Asian tourists and local Buddhists.

National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang put the death toll at 16, but Thai TV placed it at 27. More deaths were feared because of the huge number of injured.

An improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole inside the Erawan shrine complex at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated at 6.55pm. The Rajprasong intersection has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Suspicion revolves around the hand of Muslim separatists in the South and political factions in Bangkok fighting for power.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwong said: “It was a TNT bomb… The people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy.” Police said the bomb was made of 5 kg of TNT explosive. The explosion had a radius of 40 metres.

The Bangkok Post quoted police as saying that at least two more bombs were defused by officers in the same area.

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