Thai bombings were acts of local sabotage

Bangkok : A string of bomb attacks hit popular tourist towns across Thailand, leaving four dead and many wounded, with authorities Friday ruling out terrorism despite suspicions insurgents in the kingdom’s deep south are responsible.

In the normally peaceful resort town of Hua Hin, blood-spattered tourists were treated by rescue workers as forensic teams picked through rubble, with police scrambling to reassure visitors the situation was under control.

“This is not a terrorist attack. It is just local sabotage that is restricted to limited areas and provinces,” national police deputy spokesman Piyapan Pingmuang said, adding that officers are still searching for culprits and a motive.

No one has claimed responsibility for the 11 bombings. Some observers said anti-junta forces could be plotting to discredit the military regime, which has staked its reputation on bringing a measure of stability to the kingdom since its 2014 power grab.

Worst-hit was the upscale beach town of Hua Hin, which was rocked by two sets of twin bombs in 24 hours -- one pair on Thursday night and the second on Friday morning.

Two people were killed and more than 20 wounded, including foreigners. Two more blasts struck yesterday at Patong beach on the popular island of Phuket while five more were reported in the nearby provinces of Surat Thani, Trang and Phang Nga, leaving two more dead and several injured.

A Thai police spokesman said a total of 10 foreign tourists were wounded, including two Italians and one Austrian. Embassies in Bangkok said four Dutch and three Germans were also injured.

Police are also investigating a spate of fires in several southern provinces that took place in the same period as the bombings.

The United States, Britain, Australia and several other countries issued travel warnings to their nationals.

Bahrain condemns 

Bahrain strongly condemned the explosions yesterday. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry extended sincerest condolences to the victims’ bereaved families and relatives, wishing the wounded quick recovery. 

The ministry also reiterated Bahrain’s firm stance in support of Thailand, backing its efforts to maintain national security. 

‘No Bahrainis injured’

Meanwhile, Bahrain Embassy in Thailand informed that no Bahrainis were injured in the blasts. On its official Twitter page, the embassy said that it’s coordinating with the Thai authorities to ensure the safety of Bahrainis there. It announced that the embassy officials could be contacted on 0066888862880 and 0066810812775.