The following is mostly taken from the Thai language newspapers Thai Rath and Matichon. I have taken this from the paper edition of both papers, but the articles are likely available online. Any references to Thai Rath will be will TR and Matichon by M. I will try to update this again tomorrow Wikipedia style with further references.
LOCATION OF BOMBS AND INJURIES
M: 1st bomb went off at Victory Monument. It was at the booth for Bus No 140, in front of Ponglee restaurant. There were 4 people injured. TR: The bomb went off just after the end of the national anthem - which is played daily at 6pm.
M: Second bomb was near the police booth at the Saphan Kwai intersection - TR: this is only about 70 metres from the Bang Sue police station. M: Two people were injured. TR: Metal shrapnel from the bomb was found close by.
M: Third bomb at the front of a VCD store in Klong Toei. This is in front of Wat (temple) Pai Sing To. 7 people were injured including a 12 year old girl. One person later died of their injuries.
M: Fourth bomb was in the Lotus section of the Seacon Square Department Store. Small metal balls and a 9 volt battery were found nearby.
M: Fifth bomb was at the police booth at Sukhumvit 62. One person was injured.
M: Sixth bomb was at the Kaa Rai intersection (near the Mall Ngam Wong Wan). No one was injured.
For further information on the initial 6 bombs and later 2 bombs see the Wikipedia article.
TR: Authorities in Pattaya say that a bomb was found before it exploded in Pattaya. The location was near the Central Festival on Pattaya North Road. They found a Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) bomb in the bushes which was set to go off at 00:01. Large numbers of nails were found in the bomb device. As many tourists were in the area, the New Year's Eve celebrations were immediately called off. [UPDATE: Here is a link to a photo I took of this part of the article]
[COMMENT: I can't find any other reports confirming the almost attack on Pattaya as Bangkok blogger Matt blogs:
Can anyone confirm or counter the claim that there were three bombs in Pattaya? I suspect that this may be a mistake as I can’t find any reference to it anywhere, but I don’t have any contacts in Sin City that I could call up right now. The rumour is that this has been kept under wraps for one reason or another. I don’t want to say it’s true because in all likelihood it probably isn’t.
The TR report is not a vague report, it provides precise details, and nothing like this has been printed in the English language media which might scare off the tourists. Who knows whether it is true or not?]
TYPE OF BOMBS
TR: Special Police Forces (191) says that the bomb at Victory Monument had a 10 metre radius and was an AFNO bomb [According to The Nation, this is "classified as M4, an industrial blasting agent of 94 per cent ammonium nitrate and 6 per cent petrol."]. The bomb at Victory Monument was a 5 kg bomb. The bomb at Seacon Square was also of ANFO, but only 1 kg. Digital alarm clocks were used to detonate both bombs. This is very similar to what the "Mujahideen" in the South have been using.
M: C4 was used and two-thirds of a pound. Ditial watches were used as timers. Said that the perpetrators didn't intend the loss of life [COMMENT: Quite how this was concluded I don't know given that nails were used for shrapnel] and some of the bombs went off in high density places in Bangkok, but the implication seems to be it was Thaksin/TRT].
M: Police say that only small intensity bombs were used.
FOREWARNING OF ATTACKS
M. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had warned the government that there would be 10 events [10 bombs? or 10 different coordinated bombings?] in Bangkok. This warning had been passed onto the government 3 times.
TR. Thai Military Intelligence and Special Branch have received intelligence that there would be bombs in up to 30 places in Bangkok and surrounding areas (i.e Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan etc), particularly popular shopping malls like Siam Paragon, the Mall Bangkapi, and Seacon Square.
TR. Army Commander of the 1st Region (Central Thailand including Bangkok) is reported to have said that there was no intelligence that there would be attacks in Bangkok.
TR: Gen Anupong, Assistant Army Commander [also involved in the coup, but was regarded as being close to Thaksin previously] stated there were general reports that there would be incidents/events taking place, but no specific intelligence with a date/time or location.
WHO TO BLAME (OR WHO WAS BEHIND THE ATTACKS?)
M. Reports (anonymous sources ?) suggest that the CNS have requested that Pol Gen Chidchai (former key Minister under the Thaksin govt and close to Thaksin), Chumpon (former head of the National Intelligence (NIA) under Thaksin), Chalor (who works/worked at the Office of the PM), and Dr Promin (former Secretary to PM in the Thaksin govt) report to the Army, but it was unsure whether they were involved in the attacks. Police deny this, but Gen Saprang (key logistics person in the coup) ordered Dr Pomin to appear at 9am on 1 Jan.
M. Pol Lt Terredee from Special Branch is unable to conclude who is behind it.
M. Reports (anonymous sources ?) suggest that it is the work of a political group who lost political benefits/influence [implication that Thaksin/TRT] and not connected with the insurgents.
M. Prime Minister Surayud refuses to speculate who was behind the attack [although he has since said it was not likely the southern terrorists and implied it was TRT/Thaksin who was behind the bombings]
TR: Pol Gen Kowit, head of the Royal Thai Police [he was involved in the coup, but his participation is seen as being reluctant and only after Thaksin didn't have the numbers] says it was definitely not the "undercurrents" (ie Thaksin/TRT).
COMMENT: The police who are speaking publicly are turning the blame away from Thaksin without specifically blaming anyone whereas the anonymous sources are only blaming Thaksin. Now, those behind the coup and PM Surayud are also blaming Thaksin. No wonder anti-Thaksin media mogul Sondhi yesterday called for Pol Gen Kowit to be transferred.
I hope Crispin has his visa sorted out after this article. I am still trying to go over in mind who might have staged the attacks and will try to have some more comprehensive commentary tomorrow. Just briefly, you have southern terrorists, international terrorists, CNS, rogue elements of the CNS/military, Thaksin/TRT, rogue elements of the security forces who are "supportive of Thaksin", or some other group.
I think it is between the southern terrorists and the rogue elements. I think the rogue elements are just power hungry and it makes no difference whether they label themselves pro-Thaksin or anti-Thaksin. The label exists to win support from either pro-Thaksin or anti-Thaksin groups. The rogue elements of the CNS that Crispin mentions in his article are unlikely to include Gen. Sonthi - guess who was out of the country, but quickly came back. It boggles the mind if true.
ARMY RESPONSE
TR: Gen Anupong says that CNS head and coup leader Gen. Sonthi has ordered soliders from Army Region 1 to Bangkok for patrols, particularly on the mass transit system.
TR: Army Commanders for the North, North-east, and the South are on alert.
M: The Council of National Security (CNS - the coup leaders/military junta) ordered the military to the streets of Bangkok to control the situation. 6000 checkpoints were setup throughout Bangkok.
COMMENT: Look for the Army to take more responsibility and control from the police in the name of national security particularly through their new 14,000 own little new special army which was created this month. Gen Anupong has also said in a very strong threatening tone that the police must cooperate with the Army. There are significant tensions and the army will look to tighten their grip on things over the coming days.
PREVIOUS ATTACKS ON BANGKOK
M: On 30 June 1980, PULO (a separatist group from southern Thailand) launched 6 bomb attacks on various venues throughout Bangkok, although 2 bombs failed to go off. There were no injuries.
COMMENT: Also see the ICG report for confirmation:
"Groups linked directly or indirectly to PULO carried out four major terrorist incidents during this period. PULO itself did four bomb attacks in Bangkok in a single day in July 1980 [July 1]".
MISC
TR: Bangkok Governor Apirak has ordered all 50 Districts in Bangkok to collect all their rubbish bins although it is unknown exactly where all the rubbish will be stored. Also, it will create problems as people will have no place to throw away their rubbish. [COMMENT: After saying nice things about Apirak yesterday, I just roll my eyes at this measure}.
Great roundup of the Thai press. Were these all the 1 January editions?
With all the loose ends, the only thing I know for sure is that anybody blaming anybody else right now is probably doing it for their own benefit. The junta should take care not to repeat the error of the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
I think that unless other people have used terrorism and bombings across Tailand since the coup, the only suspects should be the Muslims in South Thailand. I read a quote on your blog which said they weren't capable of carrying out such an attack, but before 9/11, people would have said the same about Islamic extremists when talking about the danger to the US.
What happened to your New Year celebration Patiwat? You are all over the forums (Mandala, Pundit and god knows where else) rapidly directing readers to suspect anybody else but NOT Thaksin.
Whew! You must be perspiring a lot by now Patiwat.
But the bombs did go off on New Year (well timed to maliciously explode and deflate celebrations of those very Bangkok people Thaksin wanted to besiege last time he was in power), it was well-coordinated, and it killed and injured lots of people.
Sure Bangkok city residents do NOT need PM Surayud or General Sonthi to guide them who the No. 1 suspect is. Our suspicions fall directly at this mad monster: Thaksin Shinawatra.
I will ask you this Patiwat: Thaksin is SUSPECT of every big mega crimes committed against the Thai people - mega corruption, mega tax evasions, mega extrajudicial murders, mega ineptitude during the Southern unrest, and now mega bomb attack against Bangkok city.
Have you appointed yourself Patiwat, together with Bangkok Pundit, defender of that mega-suspect Thaksin Shinwatra, the Toxin?
Also might want to include the March bomb at Prem's residence and Thaksin's motorcade bomb as Previous attacks as well.
Looks like forensics in Thailand doesn't have a very good track record discovering who's to blame for bombs in Bangkok.
That Khmer voodoo worshipping nutcase Thaksin had not blinked an eye when he directed the slaughter of thousands during his anti-yaa baa madness.
More carnage with savage bombings against Bangkok would certainly be in character for Thaksin.
Those Muslim militants could be suspects too of course except that these Southern terrorists are known to have no base of support other than in their immediate Southern provinces and had this been a one or two bombs attack, yes maybe. But a coordinate two-wave eight coordinated bombings do suggest that other dark forces may be at work.
Did Thaksin commit the bombings? He is certainly a suspect knowing his Khmer voodoo addled mind may have completely poisoned Thaksin's already corrupt soul. But it does look very stupid for Thaksin to do such a dastardly mischief.
Maybe it was Thaksin's men behind the bombings, acting without Thaksin's orders. Newin or Yongyuth perhaps?
I meant those 'Muslims militants do not have any base of support in Bangkok'.
Patiwat: Yes, they were the 1 January editions. I took some photos of the photos from both papers - there is one of the police walking in a line, about 5-6 deep, on Rajadimri Road hours after the 6pm attack, but just before the midnight attack. It seemed more for the cameras when perhaps they could have spent that time actually doing something. The photos will have to wait another day or so as I have the wrong cable.
Thanks for the comment. I agree about the 2004 Madrid bombings, but I worry about what we don't know or are not being told. I found it incredulous that there was talk particularly on Channel 11 after the 6pm attacks that people should not be afraid and almost go on with their lives as normal. I was getting the distinct impression that they were trying to play down the events. Then you had the situation that after the midnight bombings that questions where being asked on ITV and one of the other channels about what foreigners were being told. One reporter said that the message was that "something not normal (mai pogati) had happened in Bangkok". Yes, not scaring people is a good thing, but denying them information so they can't make their own choices is a dangerous thing to do.
The Muslim janitor of the bombed Chiang Mai mosque has confessed to making the bomb. Or at least that's what the police claim. See here.
This is starting to sound like Madrid 2004 more and more.... I'm starting to question whether the junta is lying about having evidence that "old power" was behind the bombings. I'm also suspecting that the confession was tortured/forced out of that Chiang Mai Muslim.
Reports suggest that up to two of the bombs were found before they went off. These could be a gold mine of valuable evidence. Investigators of the Madrid bombings cracked the case after they backtracked the provenance of the cell phones used as triggering devices found in unexploded bombs.
The pattern of the bombings fits the modus operandi of Islamic radicals: several coordinated attacks at about the same time against a target of high symbolic significance followed by the absence of any public declaration of responsibility. Whether these bombs were the result of Islamic radicals themselves or others aping their techniques remains be be seen.
Happy New Year to you all.
Bkkpundit, good blogging. Keep it up!
Nice to see many comments.
As for the bombing, I still think it is insurgent work. But the junta cannot afford to point its finger that way. Else would show their incompetence(again)?
However, putting the blame on Thaksin seem to kill three birds with one stone.
(1) Rekindle support for junta/Divert public news of Surayud's forest land.
(2) Allow seizure of Thaksin's asset/Excuse to prevent Thaksin return.
(3) Postpone from saying that "reconciliation" is not working with the insurgent.
The problem now is, will there be an official result that say supportive or contradictary. Or will it be just another car-bomb.