Another bomb blast at Tesco Lotus

BANGKOK (AFP): A bomb blast rocked another branch of retailer Tesco Lotus this afternoon in the third attack against the chain since a deadly terror campaign began in July. Today’s bomb went off in the parking lot of the Lotus store in the northern province of Ubon Ratchatani, said provincial police commander Chalosak A-sa. Chalosak said police were still investigating the cause of the incident, which did not cause any injuries. Two bomb attacks in July forced Tesco Lotus to substantially step up security at its 29 stores nationwide, and draft in military police to supervise at closing time, when the two attacks occurred. In the first incident, a female worker in a store in Samut Prakarn province, just outside the Thai capital, was badly hurt when she disturbed a hand grenade that had been planted under a stack of carpets. Several days later, a bomb planted in a shopping trolley exploded at an outlet in one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls, killing an employee instantly and injuring a customer. An army officer who ran a security company which had lost the contract to guard the stores was arrested in connection with the attacks.