At least four dead and dozens injured as Thailand is hit by multiple explosions that leave Western tourists fleeing resorts in terror

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[h=2]At least four dead and dozens injured as Thailand is hit by multiple explosions that leave Western tourists fleeing resorts in terror[/h]

Explosions are tearing through southern Thailand with reports of a blast in the tourist hub of Phuket, just hours after a woman was killed in Hua Hin. In Patong in Phuket - the most popular destination for tourists visiting Thailand - a bomb has reportedly exploded at Loma Park. Another unconfirmed report said a police box exploded on Patong Beach's main road, at the intersection of Soi Bangla. One person has reportedly died in twin explosions in the town of Surat Thani on Friday morning. Local media are reporting that the first blast took place about 8am local time, with the second coming about 30 minutes later. There are also unconfirmed reports of fires in Phang Nga, Krabie, and Trang. It comes after a woman was killed and at least 20 were injured after two bombs were planted in plant pots (inset) and exploded in a popular tourist resort in Huan Hin on Thursday night.

 

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[h=1]Multiple explosions in Thailand after bombing in Phuket with reports of at least seven attacks across the country as westerners flee resorts in terror[/h]

• WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW
• At least four people have been killed and dozens injured in a wave of bomb attacks in Thailand
• First two explosions hit busy street in tourist resort of Hua Hin overnight, killing at least one person
• The town, which is close to Bangkok, was reportedly struck again by multiple blasts on Friday morning
• Two blasts ripped through Patong on the island of Phuket, a destination popular with foreign tourists
• Twin explosions in southern city of Surat Thami have killed one person and injured at least three more
• At least 10 foreign tourists have been injured in the strikes, which are not thought to be terror related

By FREYA NOBLE and JOSEPH CURTIS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 03:27, 12 August 2016 | UPDATED: 07:17, 12 August 2016

 

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At least four people have been killed and dozens more injured in a series of co-ordinated bomb attacks across tourist destinations in Thailand.
Foreign visitors fled in terror as the first two blasts hit the seaside resort of Hua Hin overnight, killing one Thai woman and wounding 21 others. At least one British national was reportedly among those injured in the twin bomb attack, which targeted a busy street filled with bars and restaurants.
Hours later two small bombs were detonated in the beach town Patong, Phuket, another area popular with foreign tourists. One man was said to have been 'lightly wounded' in the attack. His nationality is not yet known.
Thai police and media have also reported similar strikes in the southern regions of Surat Thani and Trang, which are used as stop-off points for those visiting the country's islands.
Thai officials have said they believe the attacks were carried out locally and are not terror related. There is some suggestion they were carried out by the opponents of the ruling junta, which recently bolstered its military power.

 

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A tourist receives treatment on the street after being injured in an explosion in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin on Thursday night. The country has been hit by a wave of co-ordinated bomb attacks targeting areas popular with visitors

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A woman is carried by two Thai officials after being injured in the twin bomb blasts in Hua Hin overnight. Witnesses described how revellers fled in terror from one of the main roads in the town, popular with visitors and residents

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A woman is treated on a street in the seaside resort of Hua Hin after being injured in twin bomb attacks overnight

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A group of terrified young tourists speak to a Thai official after the blasts in Hua Hin, which wounded 10 foreign nationals

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Paramedics are seen here rushing a victim of the blasts along the street in a stretcher

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At least four locations in southern Thailand have been hit in the past 24 hours - Trang, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Phuket

Nine foreigners were among the 21 people injured in the Hua Hin blasts were foreign nationals, according to local officials. Dutch, Austrian, German and Italian nationals are believed to have been affected.
The British embassy in Thailand has updated travel advice urging tourists to exercise 'extreme caution' and avoid public places.
Australians have been warned to exercise a 'heightened caution' in the country and follow the advice of local authorities.
Tourist Shane Brett described the scenes of panic after the first devices were detonated in Hua Hin.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: 'I was at a bar in the main bar district in Hua Hin right outside the Hilton Hotel and at first I heard kind of a bang and everyone kind of panicked.'

 

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Mr Brett said revellers fled to safety, adding there were 'a good few people injured and the whole area just panicking ... the whole area was just shut down with police cars, ambulances'.
The twin blasts Hua Hin took place 20 minutes apart and are believed to have been detonated using a mobile device, police said.
General Sithichai Srisopacharoenrath said both devices were hidden inside plants on a street filled with restaurants, bars and food sellers that is popular with tourists and residents.
He said a Samsung mobile phone had been recovered that they believed was used to detonate at least one the bombs. A female street food seller was killed in one of the blasts.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Army General Danai Kritmethavee said authorities believed the attacks were coordinated and that they are investigating 'all possible leads'.
Some reports suggest that the timing of the strikes, which took place on the 84th birthday of Thailand's Queen Sirikit, gives weight to the theory they were carried out by those opposed to the junta.
The junta has repeatedly said that defending the monarchy is a top priority and the army and its allies are keen to ensure a smooth succession for ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88.

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A young woman is strapped to a stretcher after a second blast attack in Hua Hin

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Injured people receive first aid after two bombs exploded in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin

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A woman is seen here clutching to a man as the pair lay on the ground following the Hua Hin attacks

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A victim is seen on the ground after a bomb exploded in Hua Hin - one of four locations hit in the past 24 hours

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A man is assisted by a bystander after the blasts in Hua Hin on Thursday

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There has also been two explosions in the southern Thai town of Surat Thani

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Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) official checks at the scene of a bomb blast in Hua Hin

[h=3]ARE THE ATTACKS ARE PART OF GROWING UNREST IN THAILAND?[/h]Police believe the attacks were part of a growing unrest with the country's government - rather than terror-related.
Thais voted less than a week ago in a referendum to adopt a military-backed constitution, the first test of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the ballot box since he seized power in a coup in May 2014.
The violence took place on the 84th birthday of Thailand's Queen Sirikit.
Thailand's 88 year-old King Bhumibol Adulayadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, and his wife Sirikit are in hospital in Bangkok but have resided in recent years in Hua Hin at the Klai Kangwon Palace royal palace, which translates as "Far from Worries Palace".


One person died in the twin explosions in the town of Surat Thani on Friday.
Local media are reporting that the first blast took place about 8am local time, with the second coming about 30 minutes later.
In Surat Thani, provincial governor Wongsiri Promchana said the bomb, hidden in a flower bed, exploded in front of the marine police offices, killing a municipal worker and injuring another man.
'I think it's related to the blasts in Hua Hin,' Wongsiri told AFP, referring to the overnight attack in the town that lies further north.
There are also reports of blasts or fires in Phang Nga and Krabie.
According to local media one person died in an attack on the Centre Point shopping mall in Trang. Six more were injured.
It comes after a woman was killed and at least 20 were injured after two bombs exploded in a popular Thai tourist resort in Huan Hin on Thursday night.
The Federal government has warned Australians to avoid affected areas and follow the instructions of local authorities.
The explosives, believed to have been placed in plant pots, went off in the Hua Hin resort earlier today.
Reports on social media have suggested two British people are hurt, among nine injured foreign tourists.
The second bomb exploded near a bar at about 10:20 p.m (1320 GMT), killing a Thai woman and injuring eight foreigners and one other Thai person, local deputy police chief Samer Yousamran said.

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Surat Thani police told local media NationTV, that there are 'similarities' between bombs in Surat Thani (pictured) and Trang

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One person was been killed and 20 injured in a twin bombing in Hua Hin on Thursday night

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It is thought there are eight or nine foreign tourists among the injured, pictured, who have been taken to a local hospital

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The bombings killed one Thai woman, who was believed to be a street vendor at the resort, pictured

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Emergency services were quickly on the scene, helping carry the wounded away on stretchers, pictured, with two British women thought to be among the injured

 

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The injured are being treated at a local hospital, he said.
Writing on Twitter, charity founder Edwin Wiek said: 'At #HuaHin hospital. Seems 5 foreigners injured, 2 British, 3 of unknown nationality.'
He later added: 'Latest update: #Huahin #bomb total 23 injured, 1 dead. At least 9 foreigner under the injured.'
It is believed two of those injured are Dutch, while another is a German woman aged in her 20s.
The first bomb went off about twenty minutes earlier about 55 yards away from the second bomb, he said. Nobody was injured in the first explosion.

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Emergency services, pictured, rushed to the scene to take the injured to a local hospital

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The attacks took place a day before the Queen of Thailand's birthday - a public holiday

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Hua Hin is located in south Thailand where there is a long-running conflict between the government and insurgents

Police are investigating and as yet do not know the motive or the identity of the bombers, he said.
The timing suggested it might be an effort to embarrass the military government that took power two years ago.
Junta chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday night took credit for bringing stability back to Thailand after an extended period of unrest.
In a separate incident earlier on Thursday, a bomb exploded at a market in the southern Trang province in Thailand, injuring six people, police said.
Police believe that explosion was related to a local dispute.

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Emergency services are at the scene at the Hua Hin resort in Thailand after two explosions

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Two bombs are believed to have been placed in plant pots, pictured, and went off within around 30 minutes of each other

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Reports on social media suggest one woman has died while 10 people, including foreigners, have been injured

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Police say no one was injured in the first explosion but the second killed a Thai woman

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Edwin Wiek wrote on Twitter he had been told two British people were among the injured

 

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Thais voted less than a week ago in a referendum to adopt a military-backed constitution, the first test of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the ballot box since he seized power in a coup in May 2014.
Thailand's 88 year-old King Bhumibol Adulayadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, and his wife Sirikit are in hospital in Bangkok but have resided in recent years in Hua Hin at the Klai Kangwon Palace royal palace, which translates as 'Far from Worries Palace'.
King Bhumibol has received treatment for an infection over the past month in a Bangkok hospital, the Royal Household Bureau said on August 1.
Reports on social media have suggested a foreign couple with a child were badly injured, with 'bones left sticking out of their legs'.

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Police officers have been spotted examining the scene with torches as they carry out investigations, left and right

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Another report on Twitter suggested a woman selling salad has died in the explosion

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What appears to be the charred remains of a plant pot that one of the bombs was placed in

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Concerned locals have been seen gathering around the scene as police stand guard

 

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Another Twitter user claimed a woman selling salad in the area was killed.
The explosions occurred within around 30 minutes of each other and the pots were said to have been around 55 yards apart.
A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: ' We are seeking further information following the incident in Hua Hin, Thailand, and stand ready to provide assistance to any British nationals.'
It is thought more than 6,500 people, including Buddhist monks, teachers, troops and separatist insurgents have been killed since 2004 in the long-running conflict, although tourist destinations have rarely been affected.
Police are currently conducting forensic investigations at the site, using torches to examine the scene.
The resort is popular with both foreigners and locals, and hosts international jazz, car and kite festivals every year.
It is also famous for its fishing opportunities while its shallow and warm waters provide good conditions for kite boarding and surfing.

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The scene remains chaotic as darkness descends over the resort, pictured

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Much of the site has been cordoned off, including this motorbike modified to sell food

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The resort, pictured, is a popular destination for Western tourists in Thailand