2006 Bangkok Bombings - Bombings

Bombings

Six explosives went off almost simultaneously in the early evening in Bangkok, killing three and injuring at least 23 people, as revellers were about to start celebrating New Year's Eve.

• Victory Monument. Seventeen people were injured and two Thais died at the hospital from injuries. One Hungarian was among the injured. The bomb was placed in a bus-stop shelter and went off at around 6:00 p.m., ripping through the bus stops, shattering windows at a nearby restaurant and sending debris in all directions. A second blast went off nearby shortly after.
• Khlong Toei, near the Na Ranong intersection. A bomb hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine exploded and injured three people, including a 10-year-old girl. A 61-year-old man died at the hospital from injuries. The explosion caused a secondary explosion in a number of propane gas cylinders that were situated nearby.
• Saphan Khwai intersection, Phaya Thai District. Another bomb went off at a police box. Two people were injured. Witnesses saw a man dropping a hand grenade from a pedestrian bridge onto the police box. Residue of C-4 and TNT explosives were found at the scene.
• Seacon Square, Prawet District. An unexploded bomb was found in a trash can near a gold shop on the first floor inside the shopping mall. It was removed to the carpark where it exploded, creating panic but causing no injuries. Authorities ordered all shoppers to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok's largest, and all shops to close.
• Khae Rai intersection, Mueang district, Nonthaburi Province (13°51′31″N 100°31′15″E / 13.85861°N 100.52083°E / 13.85861; 100.52083). A police box was bombed but no injuries were reported.
• Sukhumvit Soi 62. A police box at the entrance of the soi was bombed, but no injuries were reported.
• Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, Phahonyothin Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak. A security guard found a suspicious black bag left unattended in a fast food outlet and placed the bag in a back room. The bomb exploded sometime afterwards, causing a blackout in the cineplex's retail area. There were no casualties or injuries. The cineplex owner only alerted Phahonyothin police later on 1 January, fearing negative publicity.

After these events, New Year's celebrations at CentralWorld and Sanam Luang were cancelled. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin led the New Year countdown more than three hours early at the CentralWorld party.

Two more bombs exploded almost immediately after midnight in the vicinity of CentralWorld. Three Serbs, two Englishmen, two Thais, and one Irishman were among those injured.

• Best Sea Foods restaurant near Khlong Saen Saeb's Pratunam Pier and CentralWorld. Three foreigners having dinner at the restaurant and two Thais were injured. One of the foreigners' legs was blown off by the blast.
• A public telephone booth at the pedestrian bridge linking CentralWorld and Gaysorn shopping malls. Several foreigners were injured.
• Three additional unexploded bombs were found in the area.

Police investigated several other incidents.

• A suspected bomb was investigated at Buddy Beer (bar) on Khaosan Road about half an hour after midnight. Tourists had earlier been ordered to leave the area. All Khaosan Road bars were closed, and the street was baricaded and manned with armed forces. The bomb report later turned out to be false.
• By 1 a.m., police disabled another bomb at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar before the bomb could explode.