Bangkok blast death toll hits 22 as police believe suspect spotted on CCTV

Police in Thailand are searching for a suspect who was seen on CCTV near a shrine where a bomb went off on Monday killing 22 people, the country’s Prime Minister has said. It comes as the blast was described by the country’s army chief as not a tactic used by separatists from the country’s south. At least 22 people including several foreigners were killed and more than 120 injured when the device detonated at the Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thai authorities are fighting an ongoing Muslim insurgency in the south of the country. Royal Thai Army chief and deputy defence minister General Udomdej Sitabutr said: “This does not match with incidents in southern Thailand. The type of bomb used is also not in keeping with the south.”

The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism, because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district.

Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan

Police said the attack was aimed at raising tension when the city was under martial law. The army has ruled Thailand since May 2014, when it ousted an elected government after months of at times violent antigovernment protests. The shrine intersection was the site of months of antigovernment protests in 2010 by supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Dozens were killed in a military crackdown, and a shopping center was set ablaze.

At this time we have no reports of British nationals killed or injured but we are urgently seeking further information.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

World Bangkok bomb