Five grenades exploded in the heart of Bangkok’s business district on Thursday, killing at least one person and wounding 75 as rival groups of protesters demonstrated and insulted each another across a makeshift barricade.
The conflict has its roots in social divisions between the mostly poor and rural red shirts and an urban middle class that had not been active on the streets until about a week ago.
The antagonism between them was displayed by a pro-government protester who made a rude gesture towards the red shirts on Thursday as she stood in front of a misspelt placard in English reading “Uneducate people.”
The explosions, several of which occurred on the platform of an elevated train, scattered shrapnel through crowds that included foreign tourists, sending people fleeing in panic into shops and restaurants. They threatened to ignite wider violence after more than six weeks of protests that have sought to bring down the government and force a new election.

See the full article from “The Guardian”




Leave a Comment