Twenty-seven people, including four foreigners, were killed and 117 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 twin blasts, which the Thailand Government believed was aimed at damaging economy and tourism, occurred in a space of minutes around 7 pm outside Erawan Shrine dedicated to lord Brahma in the downtown Chidlom district, creating panic as people fled the place that was spilled with blood.
The temple is located on the main road through Bangkok’s commercial hub and is surrounded by three major shopping malls. However, there were no reports of any Indian casualties in the explosions that caused a huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere. It is among Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the bomb blasts.
“I strongly condemn the blast in Bangkok. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured,” he tweeted.
Police said first an improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole in front of the temple at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated which was immediately followed by a motorbike bomb blast, causing two nearby taxis to explode.
However, some sources said a bomb was hidden under a roadside bench in front of the Phra Prom (Brahma temple). No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
The Rajprasong intersection has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. Thai TV said at least 27 people were killed during the evening rush hour. The nationality of four foreigners killed in the blast is not known yet.
The iron fence surrounding the shrine was bent outward by the force of the blast. 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 one more bomb was defused by officers in the same area.
“We are in close touch with the authorities concerned. So far there have been no reports of any Indians being injured,” Indian Ambassador to Thailand Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.
Police, emergency vans and bomb detonation squads rushed to the area where several motorcycles lay mangled. Bomb attacks in Bangkok are extremely rare. In 2012, a series of explosions hit Bangkok, injuring five people. Thai authorities said that the bombings were a botched attempt by Iranian nationals to assassinate Israeli diplomats. Several Iranians were arrested and charged for the attacks, one of whom was badly injured.
The Central Government on Monday said any Indian in distress after the blast in Bangkok should contact the Indian Embassy there and gave an emergency number apart from the mission’s landline number.
“Bangkok blast: Any Indian in distress should contact Indian Embassy. Emergency no +66618819218. Embassy landline numbers: +6622580300-5,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
“Bangkok blast: Available officers at the Embassy are Shri S.C.Sinha, Second Secretary +66614021434 & Shri Manas Mustafi +66922605849,” he added.