Just In: Bomb Blast Kills 27, 117 Injured (Photos)

Thanakorn Pakdeepol, a mentally ill man, was beaten to death in 2006 by two bystanders after they witnessed him vandalizing the statue.

No fewer than 27 people have been reported dead, with dozens more injured, as a bomb blast rocked Bangkok, Thailand.The device, which was carried on a motorbike, exploded outside the Erawan Shrine in the centre of the Thai capital.

Four foreigners are believed to be among the dead. Two bombs were found at the scene of an explosion outside the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, officials said. Major General Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta, said at least one of the bombs had detonated.

There are many Hindu shrines in Bangkok, and the Erawan Shrine is the best known among them.

The first bomb was found inside the shrine compound, while the second was found opposite the complex, he added. The national police chief, General Somyot Pumpunmuang, told Reuters that the blast came from an “improvised device” on a motorcycle, according to the news wire’s Bangkok correspondent, Amy Sawitta Lefevre. The police have not officially stated whether they believe the bomb had a specific target.

The Bangkok Post reported that the bomb that detonated just after 7 pm was fastened to a utility pole in front of the shrine, and the bomb squad was working to deactivate a second device about 50 minutes after the first blast.

No claims have come regarding the group behind the attack.

Rescue operations are still underway and officials fear that death tolls are likely to rise, owing to the varied degrees of wounds sustained from the blast, there is no direct claim regarding the perpetrators of the attack. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand, but there are many Hindu shrines in Bangkok, and the Erawan Shrine is the best known among them.

People stream to pay respects at the shrine from early morning until late at night. Thais and foreign visitors make ceremonial offerings ranging from floral garlands and fruits to teakwood elephants in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.



The shrine is said to play home to a golden statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Also, the shrine is so revered that Thanakorn Pakdeepol, a mentally ill man, was beaten to death in 2006 by two bystanders after they witnessed him vandalizing the statue.

Statistics show that thousands of worshipers visit the site each day, praying for everything from to good health to sporting results. Most pilgrims are seen lighting incense sticks and wai (bow slightly with palms pressed together) to each of the four faces of the statue. For extra luck, worshipers pay respect and money to the shrine’s Thai dancers.

Many whose prayers are answered return to pay express gratitude to this revered Thai shrine.