No one hurt as small blasts rattle Bangkok mall shoppers

Two explosions at a transit hub near major downtown shopping malls in the Thai capital on Sunday night were caused by small improvised explosive devices, but no one was hurt and damage was minor, police said. The explosions occurred about 8 p.m. at the Siam Square station of Bangkok’s Skytrain system, which serves several shopping centers including the upmarket Paragon mall. Police initially said the explosions were caused by a malfunctioning transformer, but National Police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri later said they were caused by devices that were probably not meant to hurt anyone. Service at the station was temporarily suspended, but resumed after about an hour.

We think the intent of the bombers was not to harm anyone but was rather to cause trouble and to damage the overall mood.

Lt. Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri

The incident came at a time of slightly raised political temperatures in Thailand, as the country’s ruling junta has tightened its clampdown on critics of its rule. There has been little open opposition, and virtually no violent opposition, to the military regime that took over from an elected civilian government after a coup d’etat last May. Martial law, imposed days before the coup, remains in effect under the dual administration of the junta and a military-appointed interim cabinet, and any dissent is strongly discouraged.

We have not assumed that it was politically motivated but we are pursuing a few motives in our investigation.

Lt. Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri

Asia-Pacific Bangkok bomb