Bomb blast at Bangkok military hospital, 24 injured

Incident comes three years to the day since the army seized power in the politically unstable kingdom.

May 22, 2017 01:01 pm | Updated 08:18 pm IST - BANGKOK:

In this May 22, 2017 photo, police investigators work at the lobby of Phramongkutklao Hospital, a military-owned hospital that is also open to civilians, in Bangkok after a bomb explosion there wounded over 20 people. The deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police said investigators found traces of batteries and wires at the scene.

In this May 22, 2017 photo, police investigators work at the lobby of Phramongkutklao Hospital, a military-owned hospital that is also open to civilians, in Bangkok after a bomb explosion there wounded over 20 people. The deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police said investigators found traces of batteries and wires at the scene.

A small bomb struck a Bangkok military hospital on Monday wounding 24 people, police said, three years to the day since the army seized power of the politically unstable kingdom.

"From the initial report it was a bomb... there are more than 20 people injured," Deputy National Police Chief General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul told reporters.

"It was likely to be in a package," Srivara said, adding that "battery and wires" were found at the scene.

Local media said the device detonated in the hospital pharmacy, sparking panic and sending smoke into the corridors but caused only minor injuries.

Police said the hospital was not evacuated while medical emergency staff at the Erawan Rescue Centre said 24 people were injured.

Police are already hunting suspects behind two other small blasts in recent weeks, but have given conflicting information over the devices and likely suspects.

Thailand remains starkly divided since the May 22, 2014 coup, but dissent has broadly been silenced by a military with sweeping security powers.

Until Monday's blast political violence that defined much of the last decade had subsided, with militant elements among pro-democracy groups arrested or in hiding.

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