BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - At least six bomb blasts rocked the Thai capital late Sunday, killing at least two people and prompting the city to cancel its major New Year's Eve celebrations just as revellers had begun to gather ahead of the countdown.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings, which capped a year of unrest in Thailand, including a military coup three months ago and a mounting Muslim insurgency in its southernmost provinces.
National police chief Gen. Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said he did not believe insurgents were behind the attacks in Bangkok, a major international banking and technology hub for Asia.
"The bombings exploded almost simultaneously. It must have been planned," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters as he visited the injured at one hospital. He said it is too early to conclude who was responsible.
Police and soldiers fanned out across Bangkok to guard entertainment venues and important sites. Roadblocks went up in some places.
Several embassies issued warnings on their websites to avoid Bangkok's city centre. The British Embassy urged its citizens "not to travel into the city until further notice."
The major public celebration was also cancelled in the northern city of Chiang Mai.
"It is not worth risking," said Maj.-Gen. Bandop Sukhonthaman, the provincial police chief.
Bomb attacks are rare in the Thai capital. Several small bombs exploded during the recent political turmoil but they were apparently set to create unrest rather than cause casualties.
Ajirawit confirmed at least six explosions on Sunday, and told the iTV television network that authorities were inspecting several more locations where there were suspicious packages.
Police said two people died of their injuries at hospitals and Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said that 26 people were injured, with 14 of them being treated in hospitals while the others have returned home.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings, which capped a year of unrest in Thailand, including a military coup three months ago and a mounting Muslim insurgency in its southernmost provinces.
National police chief Gen. Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said he did not believe insurgents were behind the attacks in Bangkok, a major international banking and technology hub for Asia.
"The bombings exploded almost simultaneously. It must have been planned," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters as he visited the injured at one hospital. He said it is too early to conclude who was responsible.
Police and soldiers fanned out across Bangkok to guard entertainment venues and important sites. Roadblocks went up in some places.
Several embassies issued warnings on their websites to avoid Bangkok's city centre. The British Embassy urged its citizens "not to travel into the city until further notice."
The major public celebration was also cancelled in the northern city of Chiang Mai.
"It is not worth risking," said Maj.-Gen. Bandop Sukhonthaman, the provincial police chief.
Bomb attacks are rare in the Thai capital. Several small bombs exploded during the recent political turmoil but they were apparently set to create unrest rather than cause casualties.
Ajirawit confirmed at least six explosions on Sunday, and told the iTV television network that authorities were inspecting several more locations where there were suspicious packages.
Police said two people died of their injuries at hospitals and Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said that 26 people were injured, with 14 of them being treated in hospitals while the others have returned home.
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