Thai PM calls for patience after bomb blasts

Bangkok, Aug 13 (IANS) Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday called for patience and unity to help rid of bad people behind the bomb attacks that killed four and injured 15.

Prayut made the statement in a special televised programme on Friday night right after presiding over Thai Queen's 84-year-old birthday ceremony, Xinhua reported.

Expressing sorrow for families of the victims, the Prime Minister has promised that his government would do the utmost to alleviate victims as well as investigate the tragedy.

He said the government would look after the safety of all diplomats and foreigners in the country and fully care for those affected.

Prayut asked the public not to be panic and not to make any assumption as the culprits are still at large.

Yet he alerted the public that "there are still bad people in Thai society who tried to act before the referendum day and on this auspicious day known as Queen Sirikit's birthday and Mother's day of all Thai people."

After the multiple explosions that struck Thai tourist towns on Friday, police detained two suspects for being involved in the blasts.

Friday's explosions came just hours after one person was killed and nearly 20 injured, including foreign tourists, in two explosions in Hua Hin town on Thursday night.

At least eight explosions hit three cities in 12 hours, the police said.

"The blasts in Prachuap Khiri Khan and other southern provinces were not terrorist acts, but of sabotage," Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Pingmuang, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said.

He said that Thailand had no conflict over race and religions among ethnic minorities or was under threat linked to Islamic State terrorism.

The explosions stemmed from internal conflicts and were aimed at creating chaos, he said.

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda instructed all police agencies to tighten security at government offices and symbolic places, particularly bus terminals, railway stations, airports, tourist attractions and areas frequented by tourists.

The explosions began on Thursday night in the resort of Hua Hin. Two bombs placed near a local bar called Johnny's 56 went off as tourists were leaving to go back to their hotels, CNN quoted Police Lieutenant Colonel Samoer Yoosumran as saying.