Thailand Hit By Bomb Blasts In Hua Hin And Phuket, Several Dead, Dozens Injured, Attacks Not Related To Terrorism

UPDATE: 4:34 a.m. EDT — Thai officials had intelligence about possible attacks prior to the bomb blasts that took place in southern Thailand over the past few days, including Friday’s, Jaktip Chaijinda, the national police chief said Friday.

Chaijinda said that improvised explosive devices and firebombs were used in attacks in seven Thai provinces from Aug.7 to Aug. 12, Reuters reported.

A series of blasts on Thursday and Friday killed at least four people.

Original story:

Series of bomb blasts rattled Thailand killing multiple people, reports said Friday. Initial two bombings happened Thursday, followed by two more blasts Friday in the southern resort city of Hua Hin and two other explosions in Phuket.

Local authorities confirmed that one person was killed in the blasts, but media reports said that at least four are dead. Dozens, including about 10 foreigners, were injured in the Hua Hin bombings that came as the country celebrates a long weekend for Queen Sirikit’s birthday.

Officials have ruled out the possibilities of terrorism, however, they said it was too soon to say who was behind the explosions. BBC reported that suspicion is likely to fall on separatist insurgents who have launched an armed campaign against the Thai military in the three southern provinces.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha urged people for calm.

“The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” he said. “We should not make people panic more. Why the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism — and who did it — you have to find out for me.”

Hua Hin’s district chief, Sutthipong Klai-udom, told Agence France-Presse that Thursday’s bombs were detonated by mobile phone.

The attacks took place just a few days before the first anniversary of Bangkok bombing at the Hindu Erawan Shrine that claimed lives of 22 people and injured over 100. No group claimed the attack and Thai authorities said it was retaliation to a police crackdown on their human smuggling operation.