Fears rise as 51 wounded during anti-government protests in Thailand

ATTACKERS set off explosions at anti-government protest sites yesterday, wounding 51 people and raising fears of widening confrontations in Thailand’s worst political crisis that has strangled its economy and shut down its main airports.

The first blast occurred inside Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat’s office compound, which protesters seized in August and have held ever since.

Suriyasai Katasiya, a spokesman for the protest group, said a grenade landed on the roof of a tent where protesters were resting, rolled down to the ground and exploded.

At least 49 people were injured, said Surachet Sathitniramai at the Narenthorn Medical Centre.

He said nine people were taken to hospital, including four in serious condition.

20 minutes after that attack, two more blasts rocked an anti-government television station but there were no injuries, Suriyasai said.

In another pre-dawn strike, an explosive device detonated on the road near the main entrance to Bangkok’s Don Muang domestic airport.

Surachet and an Associated Press television cameraman said two people were wounded.

No one claimed responsibility for the blasts but Suriyasai blamed the government.

Government spokesman Nattawut Sai-Kua denied rumours that Somchai had left the country, saying he was definitely in Chiang Mai and had no plans to go abroad in the near future.