ImageCourtesy: bbc.com
At the least seven people are believed to have suffered minor injuries on the small popular tourist island of Koh Samui in Thailand after a vehicle exploded, according to the local media reports.
The explosion happened at about 23:30, according to the time in Thailand, (16:30 GMT) in the Central Festival shopping mall. A 12-year-old Italian girl, along with six other Thai’s are believed to have suffered injuries as a result.
Local officials and other passers-by believe that the vehicle may have been brought to Koh Samui from one of three southern Thai provinces from where the Islamist militants and other rebels are operational. Many vehicles, though, have been damaged. Exact provenance of the vehicle has yet to be established as the authorities still remain perturbed and are investigating into the matter. The bomb is supposed to have gone off after a fashion show in the basement of the nearby mall near the popular Chaweng beach.
Koh Samui, is in the Surat Thani province, further north from the three provinces which have often been target of the frequent Islamist violence since the year 2004. However, Koh Samui in particular hasn’t been a target of these activities. The government has expressed concern over the same.
The PM Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered for security arrangements in the capital city of Bangkok, to be ramped up in the month of February after twin bomb blasts occurred outside a shopping centre, injuring one person.
Tags: Koh Samui Thailand
