No fatalities reported as multiple blasts hit Bangkok

Investigations launched as Bangkok is hit by multiple blasts, fires

Bangkok: A Thai government spokesperson said on Friday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pleaded with the public on Friday morning not to panic and ordered an immediate investigation into various bomb blasts and small fires in the capital.

The police were ordered to step up security and the public to report any irregularities or abnormalities they observe, the spokesperson added.

According to local reports, the first three explosions happened just after 7:00 am in front of the Government Complex in the Chaeng Wattana area. No casualties were reported in the explosions, but trees were damaged.

Two more explosion occurred after 8:35 am near Chong Nonsee station on the BTS Skytrain line. Two people were injured in the explosions with one needing medical treatment at a local hospital while the other was given treated at the scene.

Police deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen said the police found metal pellets at the site of the blasts. The BTS station closed its Gates 2 and 4 following the explosions. In the third blast at 8:50 am, two road sweepers were injured.

Four small fires had been reported earlier ahead of a Police Commission meeting. No one was injured in the fires that started at 5:18 am. The other fires broke out at 5:38 am, 5:41 am and 7:00 am.

Police said another fire broke out at the Chalerm Larp Market nearby at 7am.

Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as other meetings including the 10-Asean member countries and partners such as the U.S., China, Korea, Russia, Australia and India,