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A CAR BOMB exploded in a nightlife district in Thailand’s deep south, killing one and wounding more than 30, in a nation already on edge after a bombing spree that targeted tourist towns.
The latest blast struck late last night outside a hotel in Pattani, one of three Muslim-majority southern provinces battered by a long-running and shadowy rebellion against the Buddhist-majority state.
“So far there is one killed and more than 30 injured,” Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa, Pattani provincial police commander, told AFP earlier today.
The hotel building was considerably damaged.
Pictures showed fires burning on the road outside the hotel’s shattered facade, with police picking through the rubble. Nearby a car was destroyed, and karaoke bars, massage parlours and restaurants were also damaged.
Pattani is not popular with tourists, but analysts said the militants were sending a message after coordinated bomb and arson attacks that struck multiple resort towns on 11-12 August, leaving four dead and 37 injured including Europeans.
Those attacks heightened concerns Thailand’s southern insurgency may have spread north after years of stalled peace talks – a theory the country’s junta has downplayed given the importance of tourism to the economy.
The entertainment district hit by the car bomb is one of only a handful in the restive south, offering bars, a disco and prostitution, said Don Pathan, a security analyst based in the region.
“It’s the type of place that society around here frowns upon,” he said.
The southern rebels focus most of their attacks on security officers and symbols of the state, but they do occasionally strike nightlife venues.
“The campaign against social evil is not very high on the agenda of the insurgents here. Their strategy right now is to make the area as ungovernable as possible,” Pathan said.
Speaking to reporters after the Pattani hotel blast, Thailand’s deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan again dismissed any link between the tourist town attacks earlier this month and the southern insurgency.
He also said any negotiations with the rebels would be shelved until violence subsides.
All violence must first stop before we can set the terms of reference for talks. They need to show their sincerity.
Police said in a statement that the strike on the Southern View Hotel was preceded by a smaller bomb at a nearby bar, a so-called “double tap” tactic often adopted by insurgents. No-one was hurt in that explosion.
A staff member at the town’s hospital said 32 people were injured, five of them critically. All are Thai nationals, the worker added, asking not to be named.
Violent history
Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asian militant groups, said car bombs are a standard insurgent tactic but Tuesday night’s blast was the largest he had seen in recent months.
“They’re clearly trying to send a signal that with the post-Mothers’ Day bombing spree they are able to hit major urban areas,” he told AFP, referring to the attacks that he believes were the work of the insurgents.
Most embassies warn nationals against all travel to Pattani because of the long-running rebellion.
Thailand annexed the culturally distinct zone bordering Malaysia over a century ago.
Near-daily shootings and roadside bombs have left more than 6,500 dead since 2004, most of them civilians. But the violence has largely remained local and rarely makes international headlines.
The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with their lack of progress after more than a decade of fighting.
The region is awash with state troops who rights groups accuse of widespread abuses, including torturing detainees and extrajudicial killings.
After months of relative calm that saw violence dip to a record low last year, there has been a palpable increase in attacks over the past few months, particularly around a recent referendum on a new charter penned by the junta that seized power in 2014.
The charter, which critics say will make Thailand less democratic, was approved by a majority of voters but rejected in the three insurgency-wracked provinces.
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I’m so sad to hear this. “The Price is Right” was a staple tv show of my childhood. R.I.P Brucie :(
Nice to see you
@Maurice Wrenn: to see you.. nice :(
@Maurice Wrenn: to see you nice
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you nice.
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you nice!
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you, nice.
If you grew up in the 80′s or 90′s. He was a staple in your weekend viewing. It was a pleasure watching him. Such a great entertainer and legend.
@Nathan Natedog: I grew up in the fifties and sixties and he was my weekend tv then.
The end of a era and a legend R.I.P.
Higher than 89 you say?
He was a good oul entertainer down through the years.
Awwwh. Rest in Peace.
Ah no way. Cool guy. Sorry to see him leave.
Watched him for many years when I was growing up. Absolute legend. RIP Brucey
Thanks for the memories Bruce!
Such an icon of TV. RIP
Nice to see you too see you nice, Brucie. RIP.
89 didn’t he do well!!!
Lovely guy and brilliant showman
Rest in peace
POOR OLE BRUCE. GREAT ENTERTAINER. R.I.P.
My day ruined
He had a good innings and brought many laughs and smiles.
I wonder if he is gone to a higher place or a lower place….higher or lower….higher or lower…#legend R.I.P
always when i see Brucie i think of play your cards right &the spinning cards.i wont be able to get that tune out of my head now. RIp Bruce
Nice to see you
To see you nice
RIP and thanks for the entertainment through the years
See his wife….#didnt he do well # nice
@Paul Mcintyre: and won’t she do well. $$$
Thanks Brucie! Nice to see you…. to see you……..
Definately the End of an Era, he always looked so well for a man of his age, but the Grim Reaper gets us all in the end. May he R.i.P.
:(
Lord Rest Brucie. Thanks for all smiles you gave us!
Brucie – could have made the Rose of Tralee watchable…\•/…
@Fank Pulman: a true compliment!
@Fank Pulman: Possibly, but the Rose of Tralee is an Irish production always only hosted by an Irish presenter, so Bruce could never qualify for consideration.
‘Nice to see you to see nice’ end of a era of one of the greats of British Comedy very few of his vintage left.
One of the great links between the era of Music Hall and modern entertainment has passed away. Truly, one of the outstanding British entertainers of the 20th century. For anyone above the age of 5 in the 1960s ,1970s, 1980s, his presence may not have been FULLY appreciated at the time, but he was huge. In comparison to the talentless dross passing for entertainers today, one can, in hindsight, appreciate that he was the product of an entertainment world, where only the truly talented could succeed.Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.
Very sad, RIP.
He had a good innings and great legacy . Who can ask for more ?
Met Bruce at a charity golf event in England when I was a young fella ,, nothing but a cranky old git he was ,, won’t be missing him
@Donal O Cofaigh: Feeling better now you got that off your chest Donal? If you want to see what a cranky old git looks like – take a look in the mirror.
@Donal O Cofaigh: never meet your heroes!
@Donal O Cofaigh: and you sound so nice yourself :)
@Donal O Cofaigh: great showman but i did hear he cud be a b###x
@Donal O Cofaigh: did your mother never reach you the old saying “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing”
@pats brandon: oh sorry ,, I’m supposed to say he was great ! Up yours pats haha
@Peter Cavey: sorry I should of lied
@Donal O Cofaigh: sounds like you’re turning into him then! His job was to entertain which he did. How he acted in his private life was his own business.
@Donal O Cofaigh: you should learn to speak English
@Donal O Cofaigh: no. You should have kept your opinion to yourself!
One of the best and the last greats on Tv
Boundless energy for decades
Brit favourite as he had no airs or graces
Brucie….doddery or not…. I still loved your corny jokes on Strictly. You are a legend. R.I.P.
Bye Bruce thanks for all the entertainment over the years will miss you r.i.p
Nice to have seen him, seen him. NIIICE. Cheerio Brucie
Any reason why you omitted to mention his knighthood, bestowed in 2011?
A real Gentleman RIP
A great part of my growing up and the cause of countless smiles. Goodbye old friend RIP
He was known as the Guvnor to his peers,and with good reason.Best showman ever I think
RIP Brucie
Truly a great entertainer, many of today’s ‘celebrities’ could learn a lot from his performances.
The quintessential host and all round entertainer, an icon.
RIP Sir.
Great entertainer, never a dull moment. R.I.P.
Was supposedly one of the ‘biggest’ stars on TV -may explain how he bagged a Miss World
89 a great age. Had he hung on a few more months the crack would have been 90.
I’ll have to make a note of that.
Roger Moore, John Hurt and now this. Almost too much to bear
I thought he was lower than 89 or was he higher? RIP Bruce great entertainer.
A consummate professional who lived to a good age. His episode of HIGNFY shows just what a great entertainer he was across a lot of generations.
So sad
“Higher than a 10……..KING” Yes you were Sir
Thanks so much for all the childhood Saturday night laughter..will miss you man…
Here they are they’re so appealing- come on dollies do your dealing…
Was he higher or lower than 89?
Higher ..Lower..
RI Bruce…Cha Cha Chat to you later
Another one bites the dust. Bye
Sad loss rip Bruse
A really nice man.A star for years ,and loved/watched many of his tv shows.RIP Bruce,I know you will get your bonus above.
On of the all-time great TV personalities. RIP
Lets av a look at the old scoreboard
And don’t forget the cuddly toy……
A true gentleman of the screen. May he rest in peace.
Lower, Lower!!!
His performance before 1974 FA cup final is still very funny. RIP Bruce. Generation Game in the 70s was must-see viewing for us lucky enough to have BBC.
RIP Bruce. Never liked him myself but he was always about.
Sad, RIP…
RIP. Great entertainer.
Decent, funny, respectful and at times predictable. But always enjoyed. Didn’t watch “Strictly”. But his longevity was due to his ability to be natural and friendly. Consummate professional and nice fella. Rest in eternal peace. Codladh sámh.
The definition of the word “Entertainer” rip brucie
Great entertainer, RIP Bruce.
Not a bad looking rich wife.
@Pat Troy: Didn’t take you long did it?
@Pat Troy: she’s just lost her partner in life but you know being a t!t was more important to you.
@Deborah Behan: well she’s not.was a miss world.
Nice too see u too see u nice ! …. Rip
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