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4 Foreigners Die, 117 Injured As Vehicles Explode

At least 27 people were killed and 117 others injured when a powerful bomb went off inside a hugely popular Lord Brahma temple in a crowded area of Bangkok on Monday , the first such attack in the Thai capital. Four foreigners were among the dead.

The blast, which the government believes was aimed at damaging the country's economy and tourism, occurred in Erawan shrine in downtown Chidlom district, creating panic as people fled the place with cars and motorcycles exploding in the impact. The temple is located on a main road through Bang kok's commercial hub and is surrounded by three malls and hotels of international chains. It is among Bangkok's most popular attractions and is visited by East Asian tourists and local Buddhists. However, there were no reports of any Indian casualties in the explosion. Police said the death toll in the blast was 16 but TV reports pegged it at 27. National police chief So myot Pumpanmuang put the death toll at 16, but Thai TV placed it at 27. The toll is likelyto rise as a large number of people are injured.Of the four foreigners dead, one is a Chinese and another a Philipino.

An improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole inside the Erawan shrine complex at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated at 6.55pm. The Rajprasong intersection has been the centre of political demonstrations in recent years. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Suspicion revolves around the role of Muslim separatists in the south and political factions in Bangkok fighting for power.

The iron grills surrounding the gilded shrine of Phra Phrom, as Lord Brahma is known in Thai, just in front of the Hyatt Hotel, were mangled.The bomb was apparently placed near the grill inside the shrine compound. The shrine was not damaged. Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwong said: “It was a TNT bomb... the people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy .“