Huge explosion rocks central Bangkok – update 1
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A huge explosion ripped through central Bangkok yesterday evening, killing at least 19 people.
The blast hit the Chidlom district of the city at approximately 7.10pm yesterday, centred on the Erawan Shrine – a popular place of Buddhist and Hindu worship located close to numerous hotels and shopping malls.
Local officials initially said the blast was caused by a motorcycle bomb, but the Bangkok Post has since reported police as saying that TNT explosives were packed into a pipe inside the shrine, and that an electronic circuit was discovered nearby.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, said the attackers “intended to destroy the economy and tourism” of the country, although he added that it was too early to speculate who was responsible for the bomb.
Local hospitals were overwhelmed yesterday, as scores of injured people were rushed for treatment. More than 120 people are confirmed as having been hurt by the blast, although it is not known how many of these injuries are life-threatening. Four tourists are believed to be among the 19 people who died, with Thai authorities confirming that at least one Chinese national and one Filipino are among the victims.
No group or individual has so far claimed responsibility for the bomb, which is by far the most significant attack to have hit the Thai capital. A smaller bomb hit close to the nearby Siam Paragon shopping mall in February this year, while a car bomb was detonated at a shopping mall in Koh Samui in April, but Monday’s blast is on a far greater scale.
As well as the human cost of the explosion, a bomb attack on Bangkok is likely to have a huge impact on the country’s tourism industry, which is just starting to recover from the troubles of 2014.
Thailand recently welcomed its 19 millionth visitor arrival of the year, and the resurgence is being driven by arrivals from China. Bombing the Erawan Shrine – a place known to be popular with both locals and tourists, including Chinese visitors – could have a major impact on Chinese visitor confidence.
Many countries have already upgraded their travel advisories to Thailand, with Singapore, Australia and the UK all urging their citizens to exercise a high degree of caution when in the country, although most have stopped short of telling people not to travel.
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