At least 3 dead in explosions across Thailand targeting tourist areas

Three are dead in blasts across Thailand

(Image credit: Reuters/YouTube)

last updated 12 August 2016

A series of possibly coordinated blasts went off in tourist areas of Thailand on Thursday night and Friday morning, killing at least three people and injuring an unknown number of others, including foreign tourists. Thai authorities have urged calm and say terrorism isn't behind the attacks. "The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters. "We should not make people panic more." While it is too soon to say who is responsible, said Royal Thai Police official Col. Krisana Patanacharoen, "we are sure that it is not linked to terrorism."

Deputy Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Piyapan Pingmuang said at a news conference on Friday that "these incidents are different from the usual terrorism acts, they are more local sabotage on certain locations and provinces," reiterating, "There is no evidence that this is linked to international terrorism." The first two blasts were outside a bar in Hua Hin, then on Friday morning, twin bombs hit Surat Thani, the resort island Phuket, and Hua Hin a second time.

One set of explosions in Hua Hin, a popular coastal resort and a royal city, was less than a mile from the beachside palace of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and that's significant, BBC correspondent Jonathan Head says, because Thailand is celebrating the queen's birthday this weekend. A week ago, Thai voters approved a new constitution that gives new powers to the military, though in Thailand's 12-year insurgency, militants have never targeted tourists. You can see the aftermath of the Hua Hin bombings in the Reuters video below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.