7 bombs explode in Bagkok

Seven Bombs Rock Bangkok, Kill two

BANGKOK: -- Seven explosives went off almost simultaneously in Bangkok,
injuring at least 20 people as the revellers were about to start
celebrating the New Year's eve.

Two people were killed and 20 injured at the Victory Monument when a
powerful bomb went off near a bus station at about 6.30 pm.

One person was dead near the Big C supermarket, Sapan Kwai branch,
where witness saw a man dropped a grenade from a pedestrian bridge just
over the police box.

At the Klong Toei area near the Na Ranong intersection, around the same
time, a bomb hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine
exploded and injured two bypassers. The explosion caused a secondary
explosion to a number of cookinggas cylinders that were situated
nearby.

At the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, a loud explosion went off at the
parking space, creating a panic but no injury.

Authorities ordered all shoppers to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok
largest, and all shops to close down for business.

Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the
events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have
been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain
calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high
alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected
to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We
urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at
the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.

Another police box was hit near the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi
province just north of Bangkok with a bomb but not injury reported said
Police spokesman Pol General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj said.

Another bomb went off in the compound of the Tesco Lotus Supermarket at
the Prachachuen branch.

-- The Nation 2006-12-31

BREAKING NEWS
BANGKOK BOMBS KILL TWO; New Year's Eve Countdown party cancelled

(BangkokPost.com)

At least six bombs or grenades have exploded in Bangkok early on New
Year's Eve. Two people are reported to have been killed, about 25 have
been wounded.

Bangkok authorities ordered all public New Year's Eve parties
cancelled. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin appeared at the huge
Bangkok Countdown 2006 venue and told the crowd to "go home and stay in
peace."

There had been confusion for an hour over whether New Year's parties
would be permitted after the bombing. New Year's is the biggest public
party in Thailand.

The national government indicated celebrations might proceed including
- especially - the massive and internationally famous New Year's
Countdown outdoors party attended by upwards of half a million people
outside CentralWorld near Siam Square in central Bangkok.

Police Commissioner Kowit Wattana, at a televised news conference,
said, "Don't be afraid, but be careful," and urged Bangkokians not to
cancel New Year's Eve plans.

But the capital was extremely tense. All major department stores, due
to stay open until late for holiday shopping, were all shut by 8 p.m.
including the luxury Emporium and Paragon stores in the main tourist
areas of Sukhumvit and Siam Square. Central, the biggest Thai
department store operator, closed its stores.

Many would-be party-goers headed for home, either because the party
mood has faded, or because they were unwilling to risk a public party.

By the time Mr Apirak personally ordered the Countdown to halt, the
mood was off anyhow.

Earlier, government spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp said the capital
should remain calm and alert, and keep an eye out for unusual activity.
He said police had been ordered on high alert.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said people hoping to celebrate the
new year should avoid crowded areas.

Early reports said there were six explosions in various parts of the
capital. Two were reported near the Klong Toey market, where one person
was killed, and near the busy Victory Monument, where two people were
reported killed and more than a dozen wounded.

Graphic footage shown on television showed damaged vehicles and
blood-stained streets and pavements.

TV reports said a man was seen throwing a grenade off a pedestrian
overpass near a police box in the Saphan Kwai area of Bangkok, injuring
several people in the explosion.

At Seacon Square in eastern Bangkok, Asia's largest mall, an explosion
in the outdoor parking lot sent hundreds of shoppers scrambling, but no
injurites were reported.

Shoppers who called BangkokPost.com said the mall was evacuated and
shuttered for the night.

Another explosion was reported from Sukhumvit Soi 62, a major
intersection with the capital's main expressway system in southeast
Bangkok, and another in suburban Nonthaburi province north of the city
centre.

"There was no warning. It is quite shocking. We've got at least one
child very seriously injured in my area and others are injured," said
Police Maj-Gen Anand Srisiran, chief of Metropolitan Police District
Five.

Witnesses told police in some places that they saw people throwing what
looked to be grenades shortly before the explosions.

New Year's Eve parties were just kicking off when the bombs began going
off around sundown at 6 p.m.

The coordinated attacks are unprecedented in Bangkok.

However, political feelings have run high for more than a year, and
there have been reports of political violence aimed against the
military junta which ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept 19 -
primarily the suspected burning of schools.

In addition, some intelligence sources had suggested in the past two
weeks that Islamist extremists leading the southern insurgency might
try to spread their attacks to the capital. They have never operated
out of the deep South.

The Bangkok bombings, however, bore little resemblance to bomb attacks
in the South, which usually involve improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
copied from the Iraq model, and set off by mobile phones, and vehicle
bombs, especially in motorcycles.

Except for the insurgency in the four southernmost provinces, there has
been no deadly political violence in Thailand for more than 14 years,
when a popular protest overthrew the last military government. In that
case, the violence and deaths were caused by the military government
and armed forces.

Martial law was lifted in Bangkok and surrounding provinces just a
month ago, but the military is authorised to act when necessary. The
coup passed its 100-day anniversary on Dec 28.

The junta leader and army commander, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, is
currently out of Thailand, on the Haj in Saudi Arabia, and will not
return until Thursday.

The Bangkok Post website
(http://www.bangkokpost.net/breaking_....php?id=115639)
has a report that says there was a "third bomb" (in the second wave)
about a half hour after midnight in a bar on Khao San rd, but didn't
actually say if it exploded or not. Another site said a bomb was found
unexploded at Buddy's Bar (not familiar with this place, been a few
years since I was there).

Does anybody know for sure whether or not the bomb in the Khao San rd
area exploded or not?

Thanks


wrote:
Seven Bombs Rock Bangkok, Kill two

BANGKOK: -- Seven explosives went off almost simultaneously in Bangkok,
injuring at least 20 people as the revellers were about to start
celebrating the New Year's eve.

Two people were killed and 20 injured at the Victory Monument when a
powerful bomb went off near a bus station at about 6.30 pm.

One person was dead near the Big C supermarket, Sapan Kwai branch,
where witness saw a man dropped a grenade from a pedestrian bridge just
over the police box.

At the Klong Toei area near the Na Ranong intersection, around the same
time, a bomb hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine
exploded and injured two bypassers. The explosion caused a secondary
explosion to a number of cookinggas cylinders that were situated
nearby.

At the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, a loud explosion went off at the
parking space, creating a panic but no injury.

Authorities ordered all shoppers to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok
largest, and all shops to close down for business.

Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the
events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have
been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain
calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high
alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected
to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We
urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at
the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.

Another police box was hit near the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi
province just north of Bangkok with a bomb but not injury reported said
Police spokesman Pol General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj said.

Another bomb went off in the compound of the Tesco Lotus Supermarket at
the Prachachuen branch.

-- The Nation 2006-12-31