Huge explosion rocks central Bangkok

[Khundon1975]

My wife and child and her family were visiting that area today. Cannot get in touch by mobile. The mobile rings but no one is picking up, not like my wife to not take a call from me.

My thoughts go out to all the families and their relatives awaiting news about this terrible event.

Khundon.

[buksida]

Twin explosions outside one of Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions killed 15 people and left more than 80 others – mostly foreign tourists – injured Monday.

A improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole in front of the Erawan shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated at 6.55pm with a motorbike bomb in the intersection itself shortly after, causing two nearby taxis to explode. Body parts were scattered across the area, with only the smouldering wreckage of burned out motorcycles and cars left behind.

Military and police, including national police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang, rushed to the scene and two more devices, one found attached to a support pillar for the BTS Skytrain, were found in the hour after the first explosions. Military explosive ordnance disposal technicians defused both without incident.

After the bomb at the BTS in Gaysorn Plaza was found, the Skytrain was closed, along with the Ratchprasong Skywalk. Rumours that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had declared a state of emergency and ordered schools and businesses closed Tuesday were declared false and a hoax.

Police already have recovered an electronic circuit suspected to be part of the device about 30 metres from the blast scene.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/securit ... attraction

[pharvey]

OK, obviously naive - but who's responsible and what's their cause?

[pharvey]

My wife and child and her family were visiting that area today. Cannot get in touch by mobile. The mobile rings but no one is picking up, not like my wife to not take a call from me.

My thoughts go out to all the families and their relatives awaiting news about this terrible event.

Khundon.

Crossed posts there - I truly hope all is well with your wife and family KD.

[StevePIraq]

Exactly wait for things to be formally investigated and advised, all the extreme statements help no one. Things like this are terrible but happen all over these days unfortunately.

Statements like "This is going to hurt Thailand. It's going to hurt bad." are just panic comments.

[JamesWest]

15 dead and 80 injured now... many are farangs/tourists.
don't forget to text your family back home that u r ok...
thailand to them is just one big thing...

watch live here:

http://www.aljazeera.com/watch_now/

and here:

http://news.sky.com/watch-live

[hhfarang]

Statements like "This is going to hurt Thailand. It's going to hurt bad." are just panic comments.

Well GLC is correct in what he said. It's only hours after this explosion and a lady planning a trip to Thailand with my help and advice just emailed me to say never mind. She is cancelling her trip because of this news. How many more from all over the world do you think will cancel in the coming days once this is revealed. It's already all over the news here.

[kendo]

Is this area where the Boyoke Sky Hotel is and Indra Square.

[JamesWest]

Thai media now reporting 27 dead...

[StevePIraq]

This may have a short term impact but I doubt there will be anything long term. Do we all stop going to UK, France, Spain and god forbid anyone considering going to the USA.

Yes it's serious but please don't overreact.

[kendo]

Four foreigners dead out of twenty seven confirmed so far.

[hhfarang]

I suspect the foreigners killed will mostly be from China as that shrine is very popular with Chinese tourists.

[buksida]

1439814697_S__2498575.jpg (65.49 KiB) Viewed 473 times

Thai TV media reporting a TNT device left by a post nearby took out all of the bikes waiting at the red light, single explosion.

That rules out a suicide bomb.

[GLCQuantum]

My wife and child and her family were visiting that area today. Cannot get in touch by mobile. The mobile rings but no one is picking up, not like my wife to not take a call from me.

My thoughts go out to all the families and their relatives awaiting news about this terrible event.

Khundon.

I hope your family are okay Khundon.

[Sabai Jai]

Just turned my computer in London on to book my flights for this winter season ...and saw this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33963280

I will still be coming - but deepest sympathy to anyone affected by this

Any speculation (silly question) or information rgarding the perpetrators yet?

Regards Sabai Jai