Thai police said least 11 bombs, many of them twin blasts, have hit five southern provinces in the past 24 hours, killing four people and wounding several dozen, including foreigners.
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He said the attacks were unlikely to be related to worldwide terrorism, and were tied to local offenders, as the bombs were similar to those used by separatist insurgents in the south.
Blasts rocked the southern half of Thailand, including the resorts of Patong on the island of Phuket and Phang Nga.
There were also explosions in Trang on Thursday, killing one person and injuring six; and Surat Thani on Friday, killing one person and injuring three.
By midnight it was a scene of “chaos”, Edwin Weik, Founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, who went to the site of the first two blasts in Hua Hin told AAP.
“I thought I was going to come to this place and feel safe but I heard it is very rare to happen here so I do feel safe in the hotel we are in but still obviously a bit queasy about what’s happening”.
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. “Police and emergency vehicles were arriving…”
Thai police said that the bombings were acts of local sabotage and not “terrorist” in nature.
Back in Hua Hin at 9:05 a.m, another two bombs went off near a clock tower, a city landmark, according to Yoosumran.
The BBC’s Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that if it turns out insurgents are behind these attacks it would mark a significant change of tactics after a 12-year conflict which has killed more than 6,000 people, but has never targeted tourists.
The Netherlands said four of its citizens were also wounded.
The bombings could affect the country’s tourism, which accounts for 10% of Thailand’s gross domestic product.
It’s also home to the Klai Kangwon Palace, the seaside residence of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The most damaging attack then occurred in the resort town of Hua Hin, where a pair of simultaneous explosions killed one woman and injured 21 others.
At least four persons were killed and 15 injured as multiple explosions struck Thai tourist towns on Friday.
These were the first such attacks since a bombing last August at a famous shrine in the heart of Bangkok that killed 20 people.
Sithichai said one Samsung cell phone had been recovered that they believe was used to detonate at least one the bombs. All are located south of Bangkok and are popular with Thai and foreign tourists.
Prayut asked the public not to be panic and not to make any assumption as the culprits are still at large.
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Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha hinted that political opponents of the military junta could be behind the attacks.
