Bomb Attacks In Thailand Kills Four And Injure Several More

Tourist resorts Hua Hin and Phuket targetted.
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Article originally published 12/08/2016 05:37am BST: due to a technical issue this article may have resurfaced for some readers, and the original publish date may not have been visible.

A co-ordinated series of bomb attacks has killed at least four people and injured several more in parts of south Thailand popular with tourists.

Bombs exploded in the Hua Hin resort late on Thursday, killing one woman and wounding more than 20 others, including nine foreign tourists, and were followed by two more on Friday morning that killed another person.

There were a further two blasts struck on Friday in the popular tourist city of Phuket, while two more bombs were reported in the southern provinces of Trang and Surat Thani, in each of which one person was killed.

Thai rescue workers attend to an injured victim after a bomb exploded in Hua Hin, south of Bangkok
Thai rescue workers attend to an injured victim after a bomb exploded in Hua Hin, south of Bangkok
Reuters TV / Reuters

The two bombs that went off in Hua Hin were hidden in potted plants and went off within 30 minutes of each other in the bar district of the popular beach town.

While it is not clear who was behind the attacks, the timing suggested it could have been carried out by opponents of the nation’s ruling junta.

The leadership last weekend held a successful referendum handing the military fresh powers.

The incident took place on the eve of the birthday of Queen Sirikit in a town where she and King Bhumibol Adulyadej maintain a summer palace.

Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal official inspects the site of a bomb blast in Hua Hin
Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal official inspects the site of a bomb blast in Hua Hin
Reuters TV / Reuters

The ruling junta has declared that defending the monarchy is its priority, especially as there is concern about the process to succeed the ailing 88-year-old king, who is the world’s longest reigning monarch.

Thailand has been plagued by political violence since the populist billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 military coup after demonstrations accused him of corruption, abuse of power and insulting King Bhumibol.

Reporting from Reuters and AP.

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The injured are helped after a bomb blast in the southern resort city of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, Thailand
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Authorities direct traffic after explosions occurred overnight and Friday morning in the tourist city of Hua Hin
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Rescue workers help a woman after a bomb blast in Hua Hin
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Investigators work at the scene of an explosion in Hua Hin
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A man is treated for injuries at the scene of a bomb explosion
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN via Getty Images
An investigation official collects evidence from the crime scene
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Investigators work at the scene of an explosion in Hua Hin
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN via Getty Images
Investigation officials collect evidence from the crime scene
Reuters TV / Reuters
A policeman is seen at the site of one of two bomb blasts in Hua Hin
Reuters TV / Reuters
Hua Hin District Chief Suthipong Klai-Udom speaks at the scene of the bomb blast
Reuters TV / Reuters
An explosive Ordnance Disposal official checks the scene of a bomb blast
Reuters TV / Reuters
An injured man receives treatment after a bomb blast in Hua Hin
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN via Getty Images
An investigation official collects evidence from the crime scene
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Thai rescue workers attend to an injured victim
Reuters TV / Reuters
The site of one of two bomb blasts which occurred in Hua Hin
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN via Getty Images
Investigation officials collect evidence from the crime scene
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