Post-bomb Bangkok moves on, but with new sense of insecurity

One Bangkok resident says he can’t shake the horrid sight of what he saw, or the smell of death. Another says the initial shock is gone and he’s returned to his old routine — work, happy hour and taking selfies. Two weeks have now passed since the bombing at a central Bangkok shrine, giving residents of the Thai capital time to digest what authorities call the deadliest attack the country has ever experienced. On the surface, the bustling city of food vendors, traffic jams and raucous nightlife is back to normal. But many feel a gnawing sense of fear and insecurity, especially in tourist areas like the Erawan Shrine, where the August 17 bombing left 20 people dead and more than 120 injured.

I was here when it happened. I helped move injured people to the hospital. I saw dead bodies and people covered in blood. There was a human organ on the street, I think it was a liver. I couldn’t sleep for two nights. Now it’s better, but sometimes I have to drink to get to sleep. I still remember the smell. I can’t explain it. It was like flesh on a grill.

Aek Chimkam, motorcycle taxi driver.

Police have arrested a flurry of suspects. But the bomber is still believed at large, the motive is unknown and police discoveries of apartments filled with bomb-making materials have left many wondering if violence will strike again.

Asia-Pacific Bangkok