One killed in blast at Thai premier's office
A grenade attack on anti-government protesters occupying the Thai prime minister’s office killed one person and wounded at least 23 early today.
The protesters have occupied the Government House compound since August and refuse to leave until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns or is overthrown.
The protest movement has been the focus of several small bomb and grenade attacks, but today’s was the first deadly assault at the compound.
The explosion occurred shortly after 3am while a band performed onstage on the front lawn outside the prime minister’s office, said Amorn Amornratamanon, one of the protest leaders.
The grenade landed on a giant tent near the stage that was sheltering dozens of people, he said.
“I was listening to the music when I heard a big bang. I ran to the stage and turned back to see several people lying on the ground,” said Wimonwan Pranratsmee, a 42-year-old woman who was among the wounded.
Army General Prathomphong Kesornsuk, who was at the scene, said the device was an M-79 grenade that was fired by a grenade launcher from a nearby building.
The protesters, calling themselves the People’s Alliance for Democracy, have vowed not to leave the grounds of Government House until the allies of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra are removed from power.
Mr Somchai is Mr Thaksin’s former brother-in-law and protesters call him Mr Thaksin’s proxy. Mr Somchai has been forced to operate out of a makeshift office at Bangkok’s old international airport.
