Two dead as New Year blasts rock Thai capital
Posted: 01 January 2007 0240 hrs
BANGKOK : Two people were killed and 36 injured, including nine foreigners, in a wave of mysterious bombings that forced Thailand to cancel its New Year celebrations, officials said on Monday.
Festivities were called off in Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai after six explosions ripped across the capital within about an hour from 5:20 pm (1020 GMT), killing two and wounding more than 20.
Another two blasts exploded shortly before midnight near Central World Plaza where Bangkok's main celebrations were to have been staged, injuring 11 more people including nine Westerners.
The attacks capped a year of political turmoil in Bangkok and were the first violence since a September coup toppled the government of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thousands of people had gathered at a plaza outside a shopping mall in central Bangkok to watch musicians and actors count down to 2007 before the bombings forced festivities to be cancelled.
The first blast hit downtown Sukhumvit Road, one of Bangkok's main arteries, at 5:20 PM (1020 GMT), and five more followed within about an hour.
The worst attack was at the Victory Monument in central Bangkok at 5:30 pm (1030 GMT), where at least 13 people were injured when a device exploded at a bus stop.
Other blasts hit two police traffic posts in the north of the city and a Chinese temple in downtown Bangkok, while another device went off behind a department store in an eastern suburb.
Then minutes before midnight, another bomb exploded in a telephone booth and along a canal near the plaza where New Year would have been celebrated.
- Taken from Channel News Asia
The Blasts.
1. Near the Victory Monument.
2. In Klong Toei area near Na Ranong Intersection.
3. Near Big C supermarket Sapan Kwai Branch.
4. Seacon Square Shopping mall.
5. Police box at the entrance of Sukhumvit Road.
6. Police box near the Khae Rai intersection in north Bangkok.
7. Tesco Lotus Supermarket , Prachachuen branch.
- Taken from The New Paper
These bombings happened in Bangkok on the eve of New Year.
Just barely 12 days after my return from the Land Of Smiles and a lot of things changed.
I never ever expected this... This could after all happen to me if I were to stay 12 days more...
During my stay in BKK, I stayed at this hotel called Washington Suite. Its located at Sukhumvit Road, near the Saphan Kwai BTS station.
Merely 5-7 minutes walk away.
And the Big C Saphan Kwai Branch was a place we inevitably had to bypass if we were to walk to the BTS station from our hotel.
Whats more ? Victory Monument is like 3-4 stops away from Saphan Kwai, and I been bypassing there most of the time I was there since my friend and I are quite used to taking the trains there. Only when the destination is out of the way , will we opt for other forms of transport. I still thought of taking pics there... Hopefully nothing is destroyed and all well preserved..
Of the seven locations blasted, 3 of them were places I was so so familiar with....
I was lucky I suppose.
To choose to go there before xmas (since I celebrated xmas there last year, dun wanna repeat it again), and not on xmas or new year's eve (cause i got duty on the eve).
It could had been me there, the one to die, to be injured, or to be shaken by this act of terrorism.
My heart goes out to the beautiful people there, to those who lost their lives and their family members / love ones, as well as to those that got injured...
Bangkok is a wonderful place, and along with its beautiful people, ever so friendly and helpful, I really cant see why such thing happen to them...
If there's a God, please bless them.
Let there be peace and more love spread around the Land of smiles.
It could had been me... it could...
PS : Patt glad to see you post your comments on my blog. =)
Was so worrried for you when i sms you and you never reply. phew!
Thanks for ur concern.. I didn't get ur sms.. I'm glad I was not in Bkk on that day and non of my acquaintances was hurt..
Patt -> Glad to hear that you are fine =)
I think I know why you never receive my sms already! I got 2 phones, the one I carry to my camp does not have your updated number i think! haha =X