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Southeast Asia
Thailand blasts: 'Iranian' bomber injured in Bangkok - Game ON!
2012-02-14
A man thought to be Iranian has had both legs blown off after attempting to throw a bomb at police in the Thai capital, Bangkok, officials say.

Two other explosions were reported in the same busy commercial district of the city, injuring four other people.

Police said one blast took place at the house the injured man rented with other Iranians. One of those men also threw a bomb at a taxi in the capital.

Last month, the US embassy warned of possible attacks in Bangkok.

The warning over possible attacks last month was of attacks perhaps against Israeli and American interests, and a man has been arrested in connection with those and some materials were found.

The Bangkok blasts come just a day after two bomb attacks targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.

Israel has accused Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah of orchestrating the attacks. Iran denied the allegations.

There is no sign of who the attackers in Bangkok might have been targeting, but the timing and the link to Iran will raise suspicions that this might be part of a co-ordinated campaign, says BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera.

Identity card


Police told the BBC the first explosion happened around 14:20 (07:20 GMT) at a house in the Ekamai area in central Bangkok, which the three Iranians were believed to have rented for a month.

Two men managed to escape the explosion that severely damaged the house, according to police, but a third man who suffered minor injuries tried to hail a taxi. When the taxi refused to stop for him, he threw at least one bomb at it.

There was a third explosion when the same man then attempted to throw another bomb at police, but missed. The man lost his legs when the device blew up.

He is said to be receiving emergency treatment in hospital. Thai media said that an identity card found nearby indicated the man could be of Iranian origin.

A police forensics team was examining the house and reports said that police used a high pressure water cannon to defuse another explosive found there.

The Thai authorities say they have detained an Iranian man at Bangkok's Airport for questioning, but it was not immediately clear if he was one of the two other suspects.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged the public to remain calm.

On Monday, an Israeli diplomat was injured in a car bomb attack in the Indian capital, Delhi. It seems a motorcycle rider came from behind and attached an explosive device to the back door of the diplomat's car.

At almost the same time, a bomb beneath an Israeli diplomat's car in Tbilisi, Georgia, was found and defused.
Posted by:Besoeker

#10  In America he would probably be in line for $5M surgery at the Cleveland Clinic with a special Halal diet. In Thailand they will probably just have another inmate wheelbarrow him around the exercise yard.
Posted by: Super Hose   2012-02-14 20:41  

#9  As per LUCIANNE + OTHER, Israel is not expected to initiate any retaliatory mil moves agz Iran - for now, anyway.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2012-02-14 19:23  

#8  Maybe we shouldn't link to 5th columnist narrative shops like the BBC?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2012-02-14 18:45  

#7  And this is what Oliver Stone's son is inspired to be?
Posted by: Ebbaique Spereting5364   2012-02-14 18:14  

#6  The CIA has so many Iranian walkins as assets, that they turn them away. What a joke of a country.
Posted by: Hupeagum Wheamp5986   2012-02-14 18:03  

#5  Good one Frank.
Posted by: Penguin   2012-02-14 16:32  

#4  did not specify whether he lost two legs or all three.

I think in Bangkok, the answer is obvious
Posted by: Frank G   2012-02-14 15:50  

#3  It blew off his right knee... and his left knee... and his wee knee...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2012-02-14 15:49  

#2  Original article said he survived the blast, and did not specify whether he lost two legs or all three.
Posted by: Glenmore   2012-02-14 14:52  

#1  This week's first Darwin Award.
Posted by: Glaitch Bucket5471   2012-02-14 14:43  

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