It was not clear who
was behind the attacks, but police said the violence was not linked to Islamic
terrorism. The timing and scope suggested the bombs were set off by opponents
of the Southeast Asian nation's ruling junta, which last weekend organized a
successful referendum on a constitution that critics say will bolster the
military's power for years to come.
The explosions all
occurred south of Bangkok and several of the blasts — including one on Patong
beach in the tourist resort of Phuket — appeared designed to hit the tourism industry.
Thailand's economy
has sagged since the military seized power in a 2014 coup, but tourism has
remained one of the few bright spots, with more than 14 million people visiting
in 2016 so far — up from 12.5 million the year before.
The first two
explosions occurred overnight on a busy street in the tourist city of Hua Hin,
which was hit again by another blast on Friday morning. The city is home to a
swath of beachfront resorts as well as a royal palace.
Police and Thai
media reported other blasts the southern cities of Phuket, Trang and Surat
Thani.
Royal Thai Police
official Col. Krisana Patanacharoen said it was too soon say who was behind the
attacks, but "we are sure that it is not linked to terrorism."
Friday's blast took
place on the birthday of Thailand's Queen Sirikit. The junta has repeatedly
said that defending the monarchy is a top priority, and the army and its allies
are keen to ensure a smooth succession for ailing 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej,
who is the world's longest reigning monarch.
Tourist Shane Brett
told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. from his hotel room in Hua Hin that
there was panic after the first explosion, which police said killed one Thai
woman and wounded about 20 others, half of them foreigners.
"I was at a bar
in the main bar district in Hua Hin right outside the Hilton Hotel and at first
I heard kind of a bang ... and everyone kind of panicked," Brett said.
He looked outside
the bar and said saw people running. Half an hour later, he made it back to his
hotel. On the way, he said he saw "a good few people injured and the whole
area just panicking ... the whole area was just shut down with police cars,
ambulances."
The bombs Thursday
were set off by remote control, half an hour apart, according to Pol. Gen.
Sithichai Srisopacharoenrath, the superintendent of police in Hua Hin, and his
deputy, Lt. Gen. Samer Yousamran.
Sithichai said both
devices were hidden inside plants on a street filled with restaurants, bars and
food vendors that is popular with tourists and local residents. He said a
Samsung cell phone had been recovered that they believe was used to detonate at
least one the bombs.
The fatality
Thursday was described in Thai media as a female street food vendor. Several of
the injured were in serious condition, the reports said. Pol. Lt Chaiyot
Tisawong, an officer in Hua Hin, said 10 of the injured were foreigners. Their
nationalities were not immediately known.
On Friday morning,
two more bombs exploded in Hua Hin, killing one person and wounding four,
according to police.
Another pair of
bombs exploded in front of two police stations half an hour apart in Surat
Thani in southern Thailand.
Earlier Thursday,
another bomb blew up in the southern province of Trang, killing one person and
injuring six, according to Thai press reports.
Trang is on the
fringes of Thailand's deep south, where a low-level Muslim separatist
insurgency had killed more than 5,000 people since 2004. Almost all the
violence has been in the three southernmost provinces.
Thailand has been
plagued by political violence, including several bombings, since the populist
billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 military
coup after demonstrations accused him of corruption, abuse of power and
insulting King Bhumibol.
Thaksin's ouster set
off sometimes bloody battles for power between his supporters and opponents,
who include the military. The government of his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who
became prime minister in 2011, was ousted in the country's last coup in 2014.
On Sunday, Thai
voters approved a referendum on a new constitution that is supposed to lead to
an election next year. Critics say it is undemocratic and is fashioned to keep
the military in control for at least five more years even if a free election is
held.
In a speech
Wednesday night, junta chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took credit
for bringing stability back to Thailand after an extended period of unrest.
Col. Sansern
Kaewkamnerd, a junta spokesman, said Prayuth "expressed his sadness over
the unexpected and tragic incident (in Hua Hin)" and said ordered police
and soldiers in the area to step up security measures.
Source: Foxnews
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