The violence appeared aimed at dealing a blow to Thailand’s tourism industry, which brings in crucial income to the government.
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Tourism accounts for at least 10 percent of Thailand’s economy, which the military government has struggled to invigorate since its 2014 power grab.
Junta chief-cum Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Friday that the people behind the bombings meant to “create chaos and confusion” because “the situation and the economy were being stabilized” after the “successful August 7 referendum, however other junta leaders have been more reserved about linking the violence to the political opposition”.
No group has yet claimed responsibility of the attack and Thai police said no evidence of global terrorism has been found.
In this image made from video, Royal Thai Police Col. Krisana Patanacharoen speaks to reporters during a news conference in Bangkok, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, regarding the wave of bomb blasts in the central and southern Thailand, including th. But he said the bombings adhered to “a similar pattern used in the southern parts of the country” – referring to a low-level insurgency in the country’s Islamic south that has continued for more than a decade and killed more than 5,000 people.
Ethnic Malay militants fighting for greater autonomy in Thailand’s far south have launched attacks there almost every day for a more than a decade.
An August 2015 bombing at a Bangkok shrine killed 20 people – mostly tourists – and triggered a drop in visitors.
“This incident will remind all Thais that there are still people with ill intentions in the country”, he said.
“The Region 8 Police informed that they will have good news in one or two days about the suspect in some areas, as the authorities are still gathering evidences and once they complete it, they will issue an arrest warrant later”. The Netherlands said four of its citizens were also wounded. “No political aim justifies violence and attacks on innocent people”, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement.
The bombs Thursday were set off by remote control, half an hour apart, according to Pol. Gen. Sithichai Srisopacharoenrath, the superintendent of police in Hua Hin, and his deputy, Lt. Gen.
The report said Thailand had asked Malaysia to investigate a mobile phone from Malaysia purportedly used in the bomb blasts in Phuket yesterday.
The bombs, majority detonated in twin blasts, struck key tourism hubs during a long weekend, including the seaside resort town of Hua Hin and the island of Phuket.
On Friday morning, two more bombs exploded in Hua Hin, killing one person and wounding four, according to police.
Separate blasts were reported elsewhere in the south. Two more detonated half an hour apart in front of two police stations in Surat Thani, killing one person and wounding three. And two bombs exploded outside a market in Phang Na, damaging two vehicles but causing no casualties.
“Hua Hin has never had a problem like this”, Nai Amporn, the owner of a beachside restaurant, told AFP.
He looked outside the bar and said saw people running.
Information for this article was contributed by Jerry Harmer, Tassanee Vejpongsa, Grant Peck, Natnicha Chuwiruch, Vicky Ge Huang and Alina Hartounian of The Associated Press.
Friday’s blast took place on a public holiday marking the birthday of Thailand’s Queen Sirikit. The government of his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was ousted in the country’s last coup in 2014.
Critics say the referendum was a sham because the military restricted open discussion and jailed more than 100 people who criticised it.
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At last Sunday’s referendum voters in Thaksin’s northeast stronghold voted to reject the constitution, which opponents of the junta said would entrench the military’s power and deepen divisions. It was for years the favorite seaside retreat of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch.
