Thailand bomb attacks: Four dead, dozens injured after more blasts at Hua Hin follow Phuket beach resort explosion
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
WHAT WE KNOW:
Thursday 3.20pm (local time): First bomb attack Centre Point, Trang (Thailand's southern province, 850km south of Bangkok). One man killed, six others injured
Thursday 10.20pm: “Twin bombs” hidden in pot plants at Hua Hin laneway in Prachuap Khiri Khan in front of Johnny Bar and Rain Tree Bar. Thai woman killed, 20 injured including 10 foreigners.
Friday 2.30am: Fire at Lee Mart Department Store in Trang, around Bt100 million in damage
Friday 8am: Two blasts - one in front of Surat Thani maritime police station, and another in front of a provincial police station. One person killed, a number injured
Friday 8.05am: Two explosions at tourist resort in Phuket near Patong beach, injuring a taxi driver and others
Friday 8.50am: Fire at Lotus Department Store in Nakorn Si Thammarat
Friday 9.14am: Two bomb attacks at Hua Hin Tower in Prachuap Khiri Khan near popular tourist bars
Later Friday: DFAT seeks to confirm if any Australians were caught up in the bombings
A series of coordinated bomb blasts in Thailand have killed at least four people and reportedly injured dozens at tourism hot spots, over the past 24 hours,
Two bombs exploded near a bar about 50 meters away from the first site, killing a Thai woman and injuring 20 others after bombs were hidden in pot plants, detonated by mobile phones within minutes of each other, investigators have said.
Initial reports on social media suggest the woman was a market vendor.
In a separate incident earlier on Thursday, a bomb exploded at a market in the southern Trang province in south Thailand, close to the house of the provincial police chief. One man was killed and five others were injured.
Another blast was reported at the resort area of Patong beach, further south on Phuket island, popular with foreign tourists, reportedly injuring a taxi driver
Surat Thani Police stations were targeted, with a blast in front of the maritime police station, and another in front of a provincial police station. One person was killed, and a number were injured.
One witness claims a man and his child were so badly injured they had "bones sticking out of their legs".
Thai authorities believe the attacks were coordinated to target tourist hotspots across the country, motivated by a criminal gang retaliating against a police crackdown on people-smuggling, the Guardian reported.
"The bombings have the same attack profile," Army General Danai Kritmethavee told reporters on Friday.
"We believe at this time that this was a coordinated attack.
"At this time it would be irresponsible to comment on the motive, but we are investigating all possible leads."
However Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would not speculate "on the motives of the attack".
"Right now, we have to focus on not creating panic among the people and restoring law and order," he told reporters.
A Perth couple staying in Phuket was in lockdown for at least five hours after a suspicious package was found outside their hotel.
Simon and Nicole Brown from Rockingham said their Patong Beach hotel was sealed off.
"It was the first time in 10 to 15 years of coming here that we mentioned to ourselves that things felt different,'' Mr Brown said.
He said staff had handled the situation very well yet there was a sense of tension.
"If things escalate we'll be on the next flight home."
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters on Friday morning the attacks "are aimed at creating unrest in the country".
"We do not know at this time if it is politically motivated but we will catch [the perpetrators]," he said.
It is believed two of those among the injured are Britons.
DFAT is seeking to confirm if any Australians are were caught up in the bombings.
The Irish embassy in Bangkok says there are no reports of tourist injuries so far.
Local deputy police chief Samer Yousamran said the injured are being treated at a local hospital.
Police are investigating and as yet do not know the motive or the identity of the bombers, he said.
The bombs went off ahead of a public holiday on Friday to mark the birthday of Queen Sirikit - a few days before the anniversary of a Bangkok bombing at a Hindu shrine that killed 22 people and wounded more than 100.
Hua Hin is a popular upscale Thai resort south of Bangkok and many people will have gone there for the holiday weekend.
Thais voted less than a week ago in a referendum to adopt a military-backed constitution, the first test of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the ballot box since he seized power in a coup in May 2014.
Thailand's 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulayadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, and his wife Sirikit are in hospital in Bangkok but have resided in recent years in Hua Hin at the Klai Kangwon Palace royal palace, which translates as "Far from Worries Palace".
King Bhumibol has received treatment for an infection over the past month in a Bangkok hospital, the Royal Household Bureau said on August 1.
Those worried about loved ones can also contact the DFAT 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135
