Devastating explosion in Bangkok

EPA

Desvastated: People search for missing relatives at the scene of the explosion near Erawan Shrine, in central Bangkok, Thailand

The devastating blast in Bangkok further erodes the country’s tourist economy after a build up of political tension between warring parties and the threat of an Islamic insurgency in the south.


But with nobody claiming they launched the attack it may be hard to pin it one side - even though Thailand is riven with deep social, religious and political divides.
So far at least 19 people have been killed in the bomb with a further 120 injured.
The blast tore through the crowded Erawan shrine in Bangkok and at least four foreign tourists are dead.

It was still unclear whether an international terror group such as Islamic State or al-Qaeda was responsible but initially it appeared more likely to be linked to domestic politics.

Thailand has been under military rule for over a year since countrywide anti-regime unrest highlighted by two bombs blasting a shopping centre in February an attack that no group claimed.

Bomb blast: The blast in a busy tourist area of Bangkok killed at least 19 people

But it came weeks after the junta banned former PM Yingluck Shinawatra - champion of the rural poor communities and backed by Thailand’s “red shirts” from the political stage for five years.

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Bomb probe: Emergency services workers collect evidence at the scene of an explosion in Bangkok, Thailand

Her opponents - the yellow shirts - claim she is a plant by her self-exiled brother who they claim was corrupt when he had power nine years ago.

Bomb blast: Bangkok explosion caught on a dashcam, showing the intense flash

A deep schism divides the two sides and the army has a very shaky control on Thai security, only just holding them apart.

REUTERS

Terrifying scenes: Security forces inspect the site of a blast in central Bangkok, Thailand

It is possible the attack is related to the conflict but it is hard to see how it could give either side any advantage given its targeting of civilians in an area of tourism.

REUTERS

Bomb horror: Blood is seen near a victim's shoe, as security forces and emergency workers gather at the scene of the blast

The other culprit could be Muslim insurgents in the country’s mainly Muslim southern region.

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Bomb scene: A rescue worker walks past the scene of the explosion

Militant group the Barisan Revolusi Nasional are fighting for independence in three provinces and their increasingly violent uprising could have spread to Bangkok.

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Desperate help: Rescue workers near the scene of the explosion in Bangkok

It is possible that a number of bombs in recent months have been seen to have no effect on the BRNs struggle and the group has become more deadly.