Hanuman

At least three explosions from Sukhumvit 35 to 71 injuring several people including tourists and report that one man, a tourist, lost both legs. Appently conducted by Iranian who entered the country last week.

Craig

Thanks for that update, Pook - we have heard nothing about it in the media here.

Hanuman

I heard about it 30 minutes after it happened and right now I am stuck in traffic trying to get back home. They were throwing hand granades at people and some reports are suggesting that they were aiming at tourists. I know that our Lcuy is staying in that area but the news are saying that the injured tourist is a man. His condition is very critical and the prognosis is not good.

shelleyk

Bangkok Post online is reporting that the man that lost his legs is the Iranian man who tossed the bomb.

Curt1591

Here's the actual story:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nati...-30175850.html

It was a middle eastern man, who was refused a ride by a taxi driver.

Sukhumvit soi 71 has a large number of mosques. It really doesn't seem to be a "Islam versus The West" thing, unless the perp lost it when he was refused a ride to a different destination.

It would be interesting to know where he asked the taxi driver to take him.

Curt1591

There are some gruesome images of the scene. Both the perp's legs are gone at the knees. He was, indeed, the one with the bombs.

Hanuman

Conflicting news. Radio reporting that police raided the Iranian's apartment and took away at least one bomb, a bomb made with C4 weighing around 1 kg. all I know now is that traffic is very bad and I need a bathroom!

Curt1591

OUCH!

At one point, eastbound Sukhumvit had been shut down. I heard that it has since been reopened.

Hanuman

OK I just got home and here's what the TV is reporting:

3 Iranian men staying in a rented house, Sukhumvit Soi 71 - sub soi 31 to 36, were making bombs and one exploded at around 2 something PM. They fled the house and tried to hail a taxi who refused to take them. One Iranian tried to throw an explosive device at the taxi and approaching police but the man dropped it and blew up his own legs. The other 2 men escaped with report that one has been arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport trying to flee the country to Malaysia. One man still at large. The hose is still cordoned off since explosive devices were found inside including a radio with a 1kg of C4 inside it.

Not sure if this has anything to do with the arrest of another terrorist around the new year who was making bombs.

kuranosuke

thanks for the updates, hanuman.

sherm use to bring a a plastic shopping bag with him whenever he rode a taxi, just in case.

Hanuman

Now the news is reporting that over 7kg, or roughly 15lbs of C4 have been found inside the house. Hoping that the last suspect will be arrested soon.

simpsonc510

Pook, thank you for being our news reporter once again. I hope the men are all behind bars for a very long time. This simply cannot be tolerated. Period!

rhkkmk

amazing... so sad for thailand, but good news that one of the bad guys was hurt

Kathie

Thanks for the on-the-spot info, Pook. I really appreciate it.

So it sounds like no one but the bomber was injured?

Hanuman

Around four or five people injured Kathie. Now One of the TV channel is interviewing the US embassy spokesman who had just issued another warning today. The original warning was issued around the new year when the Isrealli warned the Thai authority about a plan to attack foreign tourists in Thailand by middle eastern terrorist. An arrest was made and bomb making equipments and raw materials we're confiscated.

dogster

more here:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingn...-in-two-blasts

Curt1591

The suspects in the New Years event were Lebanese. Doesn't mean they weren't connected; but, their nationality doesn't link them.

The good news is that these fools screwed up. The bad news is that it would appear that Bangkok was/is a target.

simpsonc510

Cable news here in the US is finally mentioning this. They are saying that it was aimed at Jewish targets? That doesn't sound right, but then I don't know what is around that part of Sukhumvit.

Curt1591

Much of the neighborhood is muslim. But, these explosions don't seem to be part of any "plan".

Their planned target is, at this point, pure speculation.

Curt1591

One this we can count on is that the Thai authorities will try to isolate this event as much as possible.