A series of bomb blasts rocked Bangkok's main financial district of Silom on Thursday night as the red-shirted anti-government protesters were confronting with pro-government groups.
"Red-shirt"anti-government protesters gather after an explosion on Silom Road in the financial district of central Bangkok,capital of Thailand,April 22,2010 0.At least five people died and some 100 others were injured in a series of bomb blasts that hit Bangkok's main financial district of Silom on Thursday night,media sources said.[Shi Xianzhen/Xinhua] |
At least one people died and 75 others were injured in the bomb blasts, Minister of Public Health Jurin Laksanawisit said. But local media reported earlier five deaths and some 100 injuries.
TPBS TV said earlier that a woman died after she was rushed to the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok.
As many as five blasts took place within an hour time minutes after 08:00 p.m., 500 meters from where a group of people were confronting with the "red-shirt" protesters at the Sala Daeng Intersection, the Nation news group said.
Among the targets of the series of blasts, the Headquarters of Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest commercial bank, was hit by a bomb, leaving more than 20 injured, local media reported.
The blast occurred around 09:00 p.m., following three explosions that hit the third floor of Sala Daeng skytrain station, the sky walk and Dusit Thani hotel.
Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Center for the Resolutions of Emergency Situations or CRES confirmed that the explosions were caused by M-79 grenades.
Bangkok Skytrain authority has suspended services of four stations and the Subway authority has suspended services of five stations after the bomb blasts.
Meanwhile, the red-shirts protesters who camped nearby lit at least 10 fireworks to prevent army helicopters from entering the area.
On North Sathorn road, some two kilometers from the explosion sites, dozens of soldiers with guns are seen patrolling.
Police has captured six suspects in Silom area and investigation is under way, Nation TV said late Thursday night, hours after the blasts.