Tuesday 14 February 2012

Thailand blasts: 'Iranian' bomber injured in Bangkok


 
 "The timing, the link to Iran, will raise suspicions that this might be part of a co-ordinated campaign"
A man thought to be Iranian has had both legs blown off after attempting to throw a bomb at police in the Thai capital, Bangkok, officials said.
Two other explosions were reported in the same busy commercial district of the city, injuring four other people.
Police said one blast took place at the house the injured man rented with other Iranians. One of those men also threw a bomb at a taxi in the capital.
Last month the US embassy warned of possible attacks in Bangkok.
The blasts come just a day after two bomb attacks targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.
Israel has accused Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah of orchestrating the attacks. Iran denied the allegations.
Identity card
MapPolice told the BBC the first explosion happened around 14:20 (07:20 GMT) at a house in the Ekamai area in central Bangkok, which the three Iranians were believed to have rented for a month.
Two men managed to escape the explosion that severely damaged the house, according to police, but a third man who suffered minor injuries tried to hail a taxi. When the taxi refused to stop for him, he threw at least one bomb at it.
There was a third explosion when the same man then attempted to throw another bomb at police, but missed. The man lost his legs when the device blew up.
He is said to be receiving emergency treatment in hospital. Thai media said that an identity card found nearby indicated the man could be of Iranian origin.
A police forensics team was examining the house and reports said that police used a high pressure water cannon to defuse another explosive found there.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged the public to remain calm.

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