SONGKHLA, April1 - Thailand's national police chief Priewpan Damapong confirmed on Sunday that the explosion in the underground parking of Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel on Saturday was caused by a car bomb linked to bombings in Yala.
Photo: The Nation
Yesterday's Muslim bomb attacks in Thailand continue and were far more deadly than originally reported.
Thailand: More attacks & hundreds more casualties than originally reported, 15 dead, 500+ injured, dozens critical.
No major media is covering this war on Thailand. I have seen nothing in the States in this.
Atlas reader RV in Thailand reports: "The Muslim attacks yesterday (Saturday March 31st) inflicted more deaths and hundreds more casualties than initially reported.
As with any breaking news, the next day we are seeing more information but there are still discrepancies between official sources as to the number of victims. That is not surprising given that the four of the bombs were powerful and caused hundreds of casualties.
Additional Saturday attacks now being reported include a failed bombing in the North East where a bomb went off prematurely (and by all indications, with only a partial explosion) as a terrorist was taking the device to a market. The bomb maker, one adult accomplice and a 7 year old child were injured. The adults were apparently using the 7 year old as cover during the bomb delivery.
Here is the latest we have gathered from both the Thai and English language news as of Sunday April 1, 2012 at 6pm Thailand time (that's Sunday, April 1, 2012 7:00am New York time)."
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Sunday morning that the 'insurgent group' behind Saturday's car bombings has been identified. 'Insurgent group' is the official euphemism for 'Muslim jihadist group'.
The timing of the attacks is a surprise to most Thais, and of serious concern to law enforcement. It was expected that the Muslim jihadists would launch major attacks during the upcoming Thai New Year festival 'Songkran' from April 13 to 15. The question on everybody's mind is whether these attacks came early to avoid increased security during Songkran, or whether they are the start of a larger campaign to run through the New Year festival.
As Songkran approaches, observers are not discounting the potential that the Iranians and other foreign Muslims recently arrested with large quantities of explosives were to be part of a terror campaign during Thailand's largest holiday.
Here is a list of the Jihadist attacks on Saturday:
Southern Thailand, Yala Province, Yala Commercial District: 3 bombs, 9 or 10 killed, 100+ injured, 7 critical
In Yala Province commercial district there were three coordinated lunchtime bomb explosions on Saturday. Two vehicle bombs went off minutes apart to attract emergency personnel and onlookers to the scene, then the main event was detonated by remote control: a truck bomb loaded with gasoline. There are conflicting reports that two motorcycle bombs also contributed to the carnage.
Reference: The Nation, April 1, 2012 1:00am
Southern Thailand, Hat Yai, Songkla Province: 1 car bomb in Lee Gardens Plaza hotel & shopping center, 3 to 5 dead including a Malaysian tourist (conflicting numbers announced this morning by different official sources), 400+ injured, 28 in critical condition.
A car bomb exploded in the underground parking garage of underground parking of Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, a large hotel and shopping complex in Hat Yai. The blast was powerful enough to penetrate through three floors of steel reinforced concrete and into the hotel's first floor.
Reference: VoiceTV (Thai language) video shows the carnage.
Reference: Bangkok Post (English)
Reference: Pattaya Daily News (English)
(Has statement from Prime Minister Yingluck)
Southern Thailand, Pattani Province: Mae Lan police station: 1 bomb, 1 injured
A motorcycle bomb was detonated in front of the local police station at 2pm Saturday, slightly injuring one officer.
Reference: The Nation, April 1, 2012 1:00am
Southern Thailand, Pattani Province: Mae Lan district
A villager was killed in an ambush while walking home on a local road in Ban Khok Pan Ton in Pattani’s Mae Lan district late Friday night, reports said.
The victim was identified as Ama Wani, 34, a resident of Ban Khok Pan Ton. He was walking home with his four-year-old son on the local road in the village when gunmen hiding in a roadside forest sprayed bullets at him.
Ama was shot in the head and died on the spot. His son was unhurt.
Reference: Bangkok Post
Bomb maker injured in Northeast: Khao Suan Kwang district (North of Bangkok) Nation
Three hurt by home-made bomb in Khon Kaen
Three people were injured yesterday by a home-made bomb in Khon Kaen.
Danai Nasongserm, 27 and Kriengkrai Hansa, 20, were seriously hurt, while Thanakorn Nasongserm, 7, was slightly injured by the bomb while they rode a motorcycle to a market in Khao Suan Kwang district in the Northeast province.
Police suspect that the bomb, allegedly made by Kriengkrai, went off accidentally while they were on the motorcycle.
The injured trio were rushed to Khao Suan Kwang Hospital and later transferred to Khon Kaen Hospital.
Police said that after Kriengkrai recovers, they would summons him for interrogation to investigate where and how he got materials to make the bomb and how he did it. Police would take legal action against him.
