The hospital blast yesterday in a waiting room at a military hospital near Victory Monument injured 24 people at 10am, most of whom were hit by flying broken glass and had only minor injuries.
The glass shards came from glass partitions in the waiting room that shattered in the bombing. Many of the injured people were older, retired soldiers. One elderly female sustained a facial injury from flying shrapnel and will need surgery.
The explosive found, which may have been housed in a small vase filled with flowers in the waiting room according to The Nation, had a range of between 2-3 meters and was a low-explosive device filled with nails and not designed to kill, according to Bangkok Post.
Though no one has taken responsibility for the incident, police are assuming it to be the work of junta opponents since it was the third anniversary of the government coup.
Though there have been several blasts over the last few years, including at a Big C in Pattani, at the National Theatre, and in front of the Government Lottery Office; this was the first action made at a hospital.
The army is investigating whether the same group could be responsible for the action at the National Theatre and at Phramongkutklao Hospital. They would not confirm is the bombs used in the two incident were the same type.
Thai PBS reported that the government may have been expecting some sort of terrorist action on the May 22 coup anniversary. They had warned organizers of an event condemning the junta to be held on Sunday at Thammasat University and they had confiscated signs bearing slogans such as “Unhappy Birthday 3” and “Gifts that Thais Deliver.”
Police warned event organizers that they could face arrest for using words such as “coup” or “junta” in their speeches. The event was created by Democracy Revival Group and aimed at raising awareness of the actions of the junta over the last few years.
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