Explosion in central Bangkok

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There has been an explosion this evening in central Bangkok, close to the famous Erawan shrine that honors the Hindu god Brahma.

It is thought to be a big pipe bomb, and at least a dozen people have been killed and several dozen wounded by the blast. News reports are still coming in. Good old BBC was the first to alert me of this.

The site is at a major intersection, and I often travel by on the elevated Skytrain. I have often shopped at the nearby Amarin Plaza (where I bought my hammock recently).

Who did it is an instant controversy, as most Thais have their personally favorite villains to blame. The political thickets just get thicker and thicker.

Stand by.

-Zenwind.

Update: The value of BBC International News is apparent now, as no other news service is remotely as up to date. (Al Jazeera is a decent second.) CNN and Fox News are asleep at the wheel.

Update: Overnight there's been a lot of changes in reported facts and theories.

Update: This afternoon (Tuesday) a similar bomb was thrown off a bridge toward the Sathorn pier, but it bounced into the river and exploded there without injuring anyone. This is the pier I have often used when coming into the city via express boat down the Chao Phraya River; I land there and take the nearby Skytrain into the downtown area from there.

I still plan to travel into the city later this week -- if public transit is working somewhat normally -- although Tuk thinks I'm nuts.

-Zenwind.

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