Two injured in a series of small blasts in Bangkok as city hosts ASEAN foreign ministers
Bomb explosion unit experts at the scene of one of the explosions in the capital. Photo: Getty
Thailand’s Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into three small explosions while Bangkok hosts a regional security meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne were among those in the capital for the 52nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference when the explosions occurred.
The first explosions were heard just before 9am on Friday at two sites near central Bangkok.
A third blast was heard shortly afterwards at a government complex hosting several ministries on the northern side of the city.
Two street cleaners were injured by what has been described as a homemade during the explosions in the Suan Luang district, and some were heard at a government office.
Others were heard near at least two other sites near central Bangkok.
Eyewitnesses said a security guard had also been hurt close to the 77-storey King Power Mahanakhon building. The area was partly cordoned off as police searched the area.
Government spokesman Narumon Pinyosinwat said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had ordered an investigation.
BREAKING – Four bombs explode in Bangkok https://t.co/kWjV6wsZ7m#ThaiPBSWorld #Bombs #Bangkok pic.twitter.com/ODTdEsuZom
— Thai PBS World (@ThaiPBSWorld) August 2, 2019
Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN and their counterparts from world powers including the United States, China and Russia.
Earlier, Thai police found two fake bombs on Thursday near the venue of the regional security meeting and the packages prompted a brief security scare but were quickly deemed harmless. Two men were arrested in connection to the fake bombs.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) and Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai (L) after the ASEAN-US Ministerial Meeting. Photo: AAP
It was unclear whether the meeting was the target.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were attending the forum along with other regional and global officials.
-with AAP
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