The blast, near a shrine at a major Bangkok intersection, was caused by a bomb, police official said.
A bomb exploded in the centre of the Thai capital on Monday, police said, and media reported of 19 people being killed in the blast and several injured.
The blast, near a shrine at a major Bangkok intersection, was caused by a bomb, police chief Prawut Thawornsiri said. Local media reported that the blast occurred in Ratchaprasong, a road intersection and shopping district near the Erawan Shrine. The bomb exploded at 7 pm (5:30 IST) outside Erawan Shrine, which is dedicated to Lord Brahma, in the downtown Chidlom district, police said.
Body parts were scattered across the street after the bomb went off outside the Erawan Shrine in the downtown Chidlom district of the Thai capital.
"I can confirm it was a bomb, we can't tell which kind yet, we are checking," General Thavornsiri told AFP.
An improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole inside the Erawan shrine complex at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated at 6.55pm. The Rajprasong intersection has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Suspicion revolves around the hand of Muslim separatists in the South and political factions in Bangkok fighting for power.
The iron grills surrounding the gilded shrine of Phra Phrom as Lord Brahma is known in Thai, just in front of the Hyatt Hotel, were mangled. The bomb was apparently placed near the grill inside the shrine compound. The shrine was not damaged.
Also read- Bangkok Blast: All you need to know about the Erawan Shrine that houses Thai avatar of Brahma
Latest Updates:
23:08 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Over 400 schools will be shut tomorrow following the blast, reports Channel NewsAsia.
Since most injured are tourists, Police General Hospital is requesting more Chinese translators at the hospital. Police Chief has reportedly said still no clear motivation and the blast radius is more than 100 metres. Police and military are setting up security checkpoints near major attractions in Bangkok.
22:29 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
According to Bangkok Post, the roads at Ratchaprasong intersection will be closed until Tuesday noon.
The Thai Red Cross Society chief has said that the office will open for blood donors at 7 am on Tuesday morning, reports Bangkok Post.
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed officials to investigate and secure the area to prevent public access. He also expressed 'deep concern' for blast victims, reports Channel NewsAsia.
22:08 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Congress President Sonia Gandhi expresses condolences.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the explosion in Bangkok and offered her deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
"Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep shock at loss of lives in explosion near the Erawan temple in Central Bangkok. Praying for the deceased and injured, Smt Sonia Gandhi offered her deepest condolences to the families of the victims," read the statement issued by the Congress Party.
21:54 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Several media outlets had earlier reported that 27 people were killed but national police chief Somyot Poompanmuang told reporters the death toll was 16 in an attack he said was unprecedented in Thailand.
"It was a pipe bomb," Somyot said. "It was placed inside the Erawan shrine."
"It was like a meat market," said Marko Cunningham, a New Zealand paramedic working with a Bangkok ambulance service, who said the blast had left a two-metre-wide (6-foot-) crater.
"There were bodies everywhere. Some were shredded. There were legs where heads were supposed to be. It was horrific," Cunningham said, adding that people several hundred metres away had been injured.
21:40 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
The Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong took to Facebook to express condolences to those who lost their lives in the blast.
20:44 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
81 people have been reportedly injured and being are treated in 14 hospitals.
20:32 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Thailand Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said that the people behind the bomb blast intended to destroy the economy and tourism.
"The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism, because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district," Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told Reuters.
Read the full story here- Bangkok blast: Thai defence minister says blast which killed 16 is a bid to 'destroy economy'
20:16 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Channel NewsAsia reported that all bombs have been defused in the vicinity. Authorities have started collecting evidence from the blast site, it added.
20:00 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Thailand Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has said that the bomb used in the explosion was a TNT bomb, reports Channel NewsAsia. Sniffer dogs are currently combing the blast site at Ratchaprasong intersection, reported Channel NewsAsia.
19:48 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is currently in UAE for a three-day visit tweeted that he 'condemned' the Bangkok blast.
19:36 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
"The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district," Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told Reuters.
19:26 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Thailand's permanent secretary for education has said that schools will not be closed tomorrow, Bangkok Post reports. Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr said, "No enforcement of the state of emergency decree in Bangkok," tweeted Bangkok Post.
19:24 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
19:21 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
The Indian Embassy in Thailand tweeted with emergency numbers shortly after the blasts:
Reports here: Indian Embassy in Thailand tweets emergency numbers after Bangkok blast
19:04 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
The Indian Embassy in Thailand told NewsMobile that no Indian casulaties have been reported.
Bangkok Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told Bangkok Post that the bomb was placed inside the shrine area.
19:00 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
According to reports, another bomb in the same area was diffused by the Bangkok police.
18:56 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Lumphini police said the bomb at Ratchaprasong could have been hidden in a motorcycle, reports the Bangkok Post. Traffic at Ratchaprasong intersection is closed. At least 45 vehicles were reportedly damaged by the Ratchaprasong bomb.
18:40 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
CCTV footage from the site:
Read the full story here: CCTV footage from Bangkok blast site
18:15 IST Monday, 17 August 2015
Several pictures of the blast posted online shows emergency officials cordoning off the area.
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