A string of coordinated bomb blasts within hours rocked Thailand’s famous tourist towns, including Phuket, killing four people and injuring 34 others, days after the country voted to accept a military-backed Constitution.
At least 11 bombs, many of them twin blasts, hit five southern provinces in the past 24 hours. Police said they had detained some suspects but ruled out international terrorism.
Two bombs went off in the resort of Hua Hin this morning near the clock tower, a city landmark, killing one and injuring three.
Around 200 metres away, another two bombs exploded late yesterday as foreign tourists were leaving local bars to go back to their hotels, Police lieutenant Colonel Samoer Yoosumran said.
At least 11 people — mostly citizens from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria -— were injured and a woman who had a food vending cart in front of a bar was killed, Yoosumran said. No Indian has been reported injured.
Hua Hin is a popular coastal resort, about 145 kilometers southwest of the Thai capital, Bangkok. It’s also home to the Klai Kangwon Palace, the seaside residence of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The palace is located less than about 2 kilometres from the bombing site.
Two more persons were killed in three blasts in Surat Thani and Trang area.
There were reports of bomb explosions in popular resort town of Phuket in Patong beach injuring a few but no fatalities were reported.
A bomb also exploded near the governor’s residence in Muang district.
The blasts came as the country celebrated the birthday of Queen Sirikit, a holiday.
This is is first time there have been bomb blasts in popular tourist spots like Hua Hin and Phuket.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts and it is not clear if they are connected.
Thai police said that the bombings were acts of local sabotage and not “terrorist” in nature.