Bangkok explosion: Deadly blast kills at least 18 in Thai capital

People lie injured in chaotic scenes after the explosion

19 August 2015

A large explosion outside a Hindu shrine in Bangkok has killed 18 people and injured scores more, according to Thai police.

The blast went off during the evening rush hour close to the Erawan Shrine - a significant tourist attraction - and near to a major junction in the centre of the Thai capital.

Early reports said 12 were killed but the death toll has since risen to 18 according to local rescue services, with four tourists said to be among the dead.

Police said the blast came from a bomb on a motorbike, at about 7pm local time (1pm BST), and that they were searching for more explosives.

A video emerged which appears to show the moment the bomb went off followed by pedestrians running for their lives.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="th">19.42น. วงจรปิดเหตุระเบิดที่แยกราชประสงค์ เบื้องต้นเสียชีวิต 5 คน บาดเจ็บ 25 คน <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onenews?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2871711-https://twitter.com/hashtag/onenews?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#onenews</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://t.co/2DNDrI74Ah" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2871711-http://t.co/2DNDrI74Ah" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/2DNDrI74Ah</a> — ธัญญธร onenews (@dekdue_03) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/dekdue_03/status/633257846969208832" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2871711-https://twitter.com/dekdue_03/status/633257846969208832" data-vars-event-id="c23">August 17, 2015</a>

Witnesses have described scenes of carnage with bodies strewn in the streets.

One witness, Richard Srikureja, was quoted by the BBC as saying: "I was walking to a mall right next to the shrine and I heard a huge blast and people were just sprinting everywhere. It was total chaos and it's right in the middle of Bangkok."

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4"> <div> <div> <div> </div> </div> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/p/6fGXJ-GMsG/" target="_blank" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2871711-https://instagram.com/p/6fGXJ-GMsG/" data-vars-event-id="c23">Bomb exploded ; (( Knees shaking.. Praise God im safe..</a> A photo posted by Dice Silverio (@mcclarence_dice) on <time datetime="2015-08-17T13:19:56+00:00">Aug 17, 2015 at 6:19am PDT</time> </div>

Deputy national police chief Aek Angsananond said: "All I can say now is there has been an explosion in central Bangkok involving a motorcycle bomb."

Thai rescue workers carry an injured person after the explosion

AFP/Getty Images

National police chief Prawut Thawornsiri said the area is being combed for another "two or three" bombs after a "suspicious" object was found.

He added: "There could be another explosion, so we have blocked off the crime scene and are asking bystanders to move back."

Burnt motorbikes lie in the road after the blast

AFP/Getty Images

The explosion took place at the Rajprasong intersection, which has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years.

Thailand's capital has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year, after months of sometimes violent political protests against the previous government.

Security forces at the site of the blast

Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters

This page is being updated.

MORE ABOUT

Bangkok

Erawan Shrine

Bangkok explosion: Deadly blast kills at least 18 in Thai capital

Read More