Bomb explodes in Bangkok

Thailand: bomb exploded in Bangkok early Friday, seriously wounding a man and stoking fears of civil unrest following a deadly blast five days ago and violent anti-government protests in April and May.

The Government denounced the blast as an attempt to damage its attempts to maintain public order following the prolonged unrest earlier this year. An opposition leader said the incident was aimed at discrediting anti-government activists. Police said a grenade tied with an oiled rubber band and wrapped in a garbage bag exploded at about 2 a.m. (1900 GMT Thursday) in an alley near Victory Monument, a transportation hub usually choked with traffic and surrounded by hospitals, military compounds and nightclubs.

“I do not want to speculate on the cause at this point and whether it’s politically motivated or an attempt to stir chaos,” said Metropolitan Police Chief Lieutenant General Santarn Chayanond. No group took responsibility for the attack which followed a blast that killed one person and wounded 10 on Sunday in a shopping district occupied by tens of thousands of “red shirt” protesters for seven weeks until a May 19 army crackdown.

Jatuporn Prompan, an anti-government protest leader, condemned the attack, which wounded a garbage collector. “We condemn anyone who carried out such act of cowardice in an attempt to discredit the opposition,” he said. BANGKOK, Friday, Reuters