Explosions ring out in Bangkok, home of the Asean summit

Several explosions sounded on Friday, August 2, in Bangkok. These small bombs left four people injured in the Thai capital, which hosts the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) until Saturday, in the presence of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

At this point, six explosions have been confirmed in three different sites, according to local authorities. Four people were slightly injured in these attacks, where "ping pong" bombs (so-called "homemade bombs" because they bounce like a ping pong ball) were used and concealed "in bushes by the side of the road. ".

The motives behind these attacks are not known at this stage and the authorities have urged to guard against any speculation. Thailand, familiar with political violence and coups, remains deeply divided after the disputed March elections, which led former military junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha to head a military coup. civil government.

The prime minister has "ordered an immediate investigation," Thai government spokesman Narumon Pinyosinwat said, adding that "security measures have been tightened." Prayut Chan-O-Cha blamed the bombs on "evil-minded people inciting violence" to "destroy the peace and image of the kingdom".

"We must demonstrate our collective effort to fight against those who intend to harm the country," he said on social media, urging people to "do not panic" and "cooperate" with the authorities. .

"เหตุการณ์ ระเบิด เช้า นี้ ผม ผู้ ที่ อยู่ การ สร้าง สถานการณ์ ที่ ทำลาย สงบ สุข และ ได้ ได้ สั่ง การ เจ้าหน้าที่ เจ้าหน้าที่ ดูแล ความ ความ ปลอดภัย ประชาชน ประชาชน ผู้ รับ รับ รับ รับ กระทบ กระทบ ครับ ครับ ครับ ครับ ครับ ครับ ครับ ครับ

Two explosions were reported Friday morning in the center of the capital near Mahanakorn Tower, according to police, who sent demining specialists near the skyscraper. Four other explosions sounded in Bangkok, three of which hit an area surrounding a government complex, according to the authorities.

"Sowing confusion"

"We do not yet know how many people are involved," Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters, adding that the attacks are "likely to be confusing."

The explosions took place as the Thai capital hosts a meeting of Foreign Ministers from Southeast Asian countries in the presence of their American, Russian and Chinese counterparts. This in the context of the Asean. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was scheduled to deliver a speech at 9 am local time (2 am GMT) in the minutes following the blasts. The head of diplomacy is present in Bangkok to try to counter the Chinese influence in the region.

The perpetrators of the attacks "are trying to delegitimize, discredit and destabilize the Thai summit and embarrass Thailand as a host country," Paul Chambers, a Thai policy expert at Naresuan University, told AFP. , located in Phitsanulok, in the north of the kingdom.

The attacks also occur in a tense political environment in Thailand, just weeks after military junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha became prime minister of the civilian government. Its election at the beginning of June by the Parliament was practically achieved because the new Constitution, adopted in 2017, grants to the army the nomination of the 250 senators. And the opposition denounced many frauds during the poll, lamenting how the dice were loaded by the military.

With AFP