August 2016 Thailand bombings explained

August 2016 Thailand bombings
Partof:the South Thailand Insurgency
Location:Phuket, Trang, Hua Hin, Surat Thani
Date:11–12 August 2016
Type:Bombings
Fatalities:1 (11 August)
3 (12 August) Total: 4
Injuries:36[1]
Victim:-->
Perpetrators:Muslim separatists (suspected)[2]
Assailant:-->
Numpart:-->
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On August 11, 2016, two bombs exploded in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.[3] One person was killed and 23, many of them tourists, were injured. The next day, several more bombings took place, again targeting Hua Hin as well as Surat Thani, Phuket and Trang. At least two people were killed and many more were injured. In total, at least four people were killed and 36 injured.

August 11th

Two bombs exploded in Hua Hin at about 10:20 p.m. local time on 11 August. One Thai woman selling fruit on the street was killed and 23 people, including twelve foreigners, were injured. The injured include two English, two Dutch, one German and seven from Austria and Italy.

August 12th

Hua Hin

Three more explosions occurred in Hua Hin on 12 August, killing one and injuring at least four others.

Surat Thani

A bomb that had been hidden in a flower pot exploded outside the Surat Thani police station and killed a municipal employee.

Phuket

Phuket Island was hit with two explosions on 12 August. The first occurred in the Loma Park, an area popular with tourists. The second occurred in Patong near a police station.

Trang

A bombing occurred in Trang, killing one person and injuring six others.[4]

Reaction

No group has claimed responsibility but authorities strongly suspect that Pattani separatists are behind the bombings.

On 12 August, the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha mentioned "bad people [that] have been acting since before the referendum." and "[w]e must not blame one another. We have never hurt or had conflicts with anyone, be it domestic or abroad."[5]

Two suspects have been arrested in relation to the bombings with the Thai government stating their motive was "to create chaos and confusion".

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Holmes. Oliver. Thai police arrest two men over coordinated bomb attacks. theguardian.com. The Guardian. 13 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Hookway . James . Watcharasakwet . Wilawan . Thailand Eyes Muslim Separatists in Deadly String of Bombings . The Wall Street Journal . 16 August 2016 . 18 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Kocha Olarn . Joshua Berlinger . Lauren Said-Moorhouse . Phuket, Hua Hin hit as Thailand rocked by 11 bombs in one day . CNN . 12 August 2016 . 18 August 2016.
  4. Web site: Thailand blasts: More explosions target tourist towns. bbc.com. BBC. 12 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Prayuth Links ‘Bad People’ Behind Bombs to Referendum, Calls For Patience . khaosodenglish.com . Khaosod English . 13 August 2016.