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Thai blast: 28 people injured in anti-government protest
Sydney Morning Herald - January 17, 2014
The rally was being led by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban through central Bangkok as an explosive device, probably a grenade, was hurled from the balcony of a disused building, witnesses said.
Thai television reported that 28 injured were taken to three hospitals. Dramatic footage showed protesters running into the building in the hunt for the person responsible. Police said the perpetrator remains at-large.
Mr Suthep, a 64 year-old former deputy prime minister, was about 100 metres away from the blast and was unhurt.
Hours earlier a similar device was thrown outside an historic palace occupied by Bangkok's Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and another was thrown near protesters camped out in the city's Lumpini Park. No-one was injured in these attacks.
Friday's parade attack was the first on protesters in daylight hours after a pattern of after-dark drive-by shootings and attacks by unidentified gunmen on motor bikes over the past week.
Foreign tourists have been warned to stay away from protest sites but Thai media has carried reports of a number of Australians joining protesters demanding the resignation of caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the cancellation of elections set for February 2.
Thailand's army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged all sides to exercise restraint in the crisis that some analysts fear could lead to a prolonged period of violence, saying he is worried about violence near protest sites.
He said through a spokesman that resorting to violence to end the political stand-off will only fuel hatred. "This is very dangerous for the country," he said.
Thousands of protesters are occupying key intersections and are blocking public servants going to work, which has crippled key ministries.
The protesters claim Ms Yingluck's government is being corruptly run by her billionaire brother Thaksin Shinawatra from abroad and they want to appoint a "people's council" to run the country for at least two years.
Ms Yingluck is refusing to resign and has pleaded with Mr Suthep to participate in talks to end the crisis but he has refused. Warrants have been issued from the arrests of Mr Suthep, who is heavily guarded, and other protest leaders, but police have not tried to approach him, fearing violence.
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