Global Voices Online

It was not a good start to the new year in Bangkok as a series of bombs exploded in the city killing two people and injuring several others.

From 2Bangkok's Youtube page

The lost boy has pictures from one of the explosion sites

At 6.45 p.m. today, less than 300 meters from my apartment at Victory Monument in Bangkok, a bomb exploded killing one and injuring four. The incident occurred at the bus station next to Center One mall. I arrived around 7.30 p.m. and the scene was a mixture of shock and curiosity. An area around 400 square meters had been cordoned off and there was a large crowd of military personnel, policemen, forensics experts, and onlookers.

People in Bangkok are trying to figure out who was behind the attacks. Almost immidiately after any terrorist incidents like this, the southern Thai islamic insurgents are blamed. But this time some of the official statements are pointing towards ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin's supporters or the opponents of current Thai regime. Lost boy says

I assume the question on the tip of everybody’s tongue is “Whodunnit?” At this point speculation is rife as to whether it was insurgents from the south, people acting on the current political climate, or a different group altogether. Whoever it was, they must have had a fairly high level of organisation; what that adds up to is mere guesswork. There have been simultaneous bombings in the south already this year (in October 23 banks were bombed in Yala) but the violence has yet to migrate to Kraung Thep.

[Krung Thep is another name for Bangkok]

Mai me arai comments

I don’t find the assertion that the bombs are the work of Thaksin supporters rather than southern insurgents very convincing, personally.

One of the comments on this post says “Wow. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, really. It was never going to end in the south.” . Bangkok was pretty much spared by the violence in the South until now.

Mike commenting on a post about the blasts at MetroBlogging Bangkok says

I think this will mean the dictatorial regime is on its last legs. With the embarrassing stock market blunder and now the worst terrorist attack in Bangkok, what is their legitimacy. This all happened on their watch, and there were warnings. They don't know how to run a country and they aren't protecting it.

Another comment reflects the thinking of most tourists and foreign residents who love Bangkok.

I'm incredibly shocked and saddened to think that strife and hate still brews beneath the surface of one of Asia's most beautiful cities. I hope something good turns out from all these; the Thais do not deserve this.

Bangkok Pundit and Gnarlykitty were liveblogging the incident through the night.