Bomb blasts rock Haad Yai

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Four separate bomb blasts hit Haad Yai district of Songkhla this afternoon, injuring five people. A fifth bomb found near the entrance to apartments inside Prince of Songkhla Hospital was safely defused.

The first bombs separately went off at about 1.30pm, in front of a 7-Eleven convenient store on Ponpichai Road and near the police-accommodation flats opposite Hat Yai police station.

The blast at the police flats damaged many vehicles as it the bomb had been placed near the police station’s parking area.

Fire fighters rushed to the scene to control the flames caused by the explosions.

Later reports said two more bomb blasts hit an area near Haad Yai railway station as well as close to Robinson department store.

A further bomb was found near the flats in Prince of Songkhla Hospital, but the bomb squad as able to defuse it in time.

— Phuket Gazette Editors