Huge explosion rocks central Bangkok

[GLCQuantum]

Thailand's defence minister, Prawit Wongsuwong, said this bomb, 'had targeted foreigners'.

[JamesWest]

Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Explosion at Erawan Shrine in Central Bangkok:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/081715_eme ... ssage.html

UK and Canada issuing similar warnings.

[GLCQuantum]

Exactly wait for things to be formally investigated and advised, all the extreme statements help no one. Things like this are terrible but happen all over these days unfortunately.

Statements like "This is going to hurt Thailand. It's going to hurt bad." are just panic comments.

This may have a short term impact but I doubt there will be anything long term. Do we all stop going to UK, France, Spain and god forbid anyone considering going to the USA.

Yes it's serious but please don't overreact.

Steve P,

Why don't you stop pretending like you've ever been to a warzone? It's a joke that you think... by putting 'Iraq' next to your name we're gonna all think how tough you are.

There are big problems here, and it's unnerving, so your blase comments are very unwelcome. You know nothing of the deep rooted problems that have long been evident. Currently, there are people who don't know if their family is okay or not, so how about keeping your trap shut for the time being.

Unlike yourself, many of us actually live here. We don't live in the UK, France, Spain and, to quote yourself 'god forbid the USA'.

Twat.

[JamesWest]

All 438 BMA schools in #Bangkok will close tomorrow - RT

Nat'l police chief: Traffic around Ratchaprasong Intersection will be closed down until noon tomorrow for evidence collection.

U.S. citizens are advised to avoid #Bangkok's Rachaprasong intersection and monitor local media for updates

many chinese on this list:



Thailand Defense Minister: TNT bomb meant to target foreigners, damage Thai economy:

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/08/17/t ... ai-economy

CNN International: Bangkok blast is the equivalent of bombing Times Square cnn. it/1gQkHec

[StevePIraq]

Exactly wait for things to be formally investigated and advised, all the extreme statements help no one. Things like this are terrible but happen all over these days unfortunately.

Statements like "This is going to hurt Thailand. It's going to hurt bad." are just panic comments.

This may have a short term impact but I doubt there will be anything long term. Do we all stop going to UK, France, Spain and god forbid anyone considering going to the USA.

Yes it's serious but please don't overreact.

Steve P,

Why don't you stop pretending like you've ever been to a warzone? It's a joke that you think... by putting 'Iraq' next to your name we're gonna all think how tough you are.

There are big problems here, and it's unnerving, so your blase comments are very unwelcome. You know nothing of the deep rooted problems that have long been evident. Currently, there are people who don't know if their family is okay or not, so how about keeping your trap shut for the time being.

Unlike yourself, many of us actually live here. We don't live in the UK, France, Spain and, to quote yourself 'god forbid the USA'.

Twat.

I do live in HH and I also do live and work in a war zone so I do know what I am talking about. Take time and wait for information before panicking

[JamesWest]

time for some dark humor during this tragedy.

as for living in a war zone, there could be a 50 cal machine gun nest in front of Nana Plaza and men are still going to try to run past it to get to the entrance.

[redzonerocker]

My wife and child and her family were visiting that area today. Cannot get in touch by mobile. The mobile rings but no one is picking up, not like my wife to not take a call from me.

Hope everything works out ok in what must be a very worrying time for you.

As the tragic event unfolds, I think it's better not to comment to wildly and certainly not make any assumptions.
Bickering about it is pretty poor.

It certainly won't deter me from travelling back out in a few months time.

[JamesWest]

new dash cam video with audio, huge blast:

[migrant]

We were just there last week, lots of tourists. I'm surprised there were not more injuries.

Khundon, hope your family is safe.

While this is a terrible tragedy, the press will probably make it sound like the whole country is terrorized.

I remember having relatives in S Korea during the student riots. According to the press the whole country was in flames. We called my in-laws and asked if they were safe. Their reply "Oh, that rioting? we just drive around the block".

Hopefully this is an isolated incident.

[Khundon1975]

Thanks to all who expressed concern over my family and their whereabouts.
I received a call from her at 16.40 GMT and they are all well.

As I suspected, they had gone to the Erawan Shrine to pray, as they have many times in the past when in the area.
They had gone to Big C, just up the road and then walked to the shrine to pray.
That was at approx 6pm Thai time.

Our son had drunk a whole Pepsi in Big C and needed to pee, also the wife has been suffering from a bad chest infection for the last week and antibiotic's had not helped.
So, her dad (ex MIB) had decided to cut short the prayers after 10 minutes and take her to the Police General Hospital across the road from the temple, to get a chest X Ray and for our son to get rid of the Pepsi in him.
The explosion went off as she was in the X Ray room.

Still not sure why I could hear her phone ring when I tried to call her phone, but she said it didn't ring? After that the mobile system in BKK seems to have gone into overload mode and she could not get through to me until just now.

I have always drummed into the wife, not to give our son fizzy drinks, but MIL snuck one into him on the sly in Big C, whilst the wife shopped. Thank God she did.

I dread to think how many more dead and injured there would have been, had the other 2 bombs gone off.
My family were lucky, so many others were not and my heart goes out to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones.

Once again, thanks to everyone. KD.

[Khundon1975]

Is this area where the Boyoke Sky Hotel is and Indra Square.

No Kendo, that hotel is a fair way from the Erawan Shrine.

[Terry]

Khundon, happy to hear your folk are all ok. I have friends who live very close to there and they say the whole place was chaotic immediately after the explosion - understandably.

[pharvey]

Thailand's defence minister, Prawit Wongsuwong, said this bomb, 'had targeted foreigners'.

There's been bits on the BBC saying the same. To be honest I'm at a loss to understand who and why would target "foreigners". Am I missing something big style here....?

[pharvey]

Khundon, happy to hear your folk are all ok.

.

Absolutely

[Khundon1975]

Exactly wait for things to be formally investigated and advised, all the extreme statements help no one. Things like this are terrible but happen all over these days unfortunately.

Statements like "This is going to hurt Thailand. It's going to hurt bad." are just panic comments.

Steve you have to be naive in the extreme, to believe that this terrible event will not affect Thailand's tourism.
Look what happened to Tunisia after the attack of tourists on the beach back in July. Many of the tourist spots are now ghost towns.
OK, I agree, that despite the bombing in BKK, tourists will still arrive in Thailand, but many others will think long and hard before booking a visit to Thailand.

Do you really believe, that if the perpetrators of this crime get away with it, that they won't do it again?
To me, it doesn't matter who planted the bombs, the fact they could and have not (as yet) gotten caught, says much more to me. I know it is early days yet, but the Thai authorities have a bad track record catching these extremists.

I know you say you work in a war zone, are you living outside a secure compound or inside of one? There is a huge difference in the former compared to the latter.
It's the slow drip, drip, of the tap with these attacks, that, in the end, will lose Thailand it's rank in tourist destinations.