Two bombs have exploded in the Thai resort of Hua Hin, killing one woman and injuring 19 people including foreign tourists.
The bombs were hidden in plant pots spaced 50m (164 ft) apart, and detonated by mobile phones within half an hour of each other, police said.
Local reports say the woman who died was running a food stall in the area of the blasts.
Five foreigners are reported to be among the injured.
Twin bombings are a regular occurrence in Thailand’s three southern provinces, which are wracked by an insurgency, but it is rare to find such attacks in Thailand’s tourist areas.
Hua Hin, an upmarket coastal resort on the Gulf of Thailand, is popular with foreign and Thai visitors.
Its royal palace is famous as the preferred home of King Bhumibol Adulyade.
Everyone living in the Buriram area is well-aware of how the city has grown and developed in recent years. I have lost count of the number of first-time visitors who have been very impressed and usually surprised with what Buriram has to offer.
The Chang International Circuit has put Buriram on the global map with many large high-profile race meetings being held there (including this weekend).
The tragic events in Hua Hin is a reminder that prominence can have a price to pay. The evil, misguided people who seek to gain recognition through random bombings may possibly begin to see Buriram as a target.
Whilst not wishing to spread paranoia, the authorities, officials and the public in Buriram perhaps now need to be more vigilant . An unconfirmed report in Hua Hin stated that someone saw people “acting suspiciously” in the area prior to the explosions.
If this indeed was the case, perhaps this outrage could have been averted had the authorities been informed.
In reality, the likelyhood of an attack in Buriram is extremely small but there is no harm in all of us being aware of the potential threat.
The Buriram Times would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the lady who died in Hua Hin. We also wish all those who were injured a full and speedy recovery.
Footnote:- A further two bombs went off in Hua Hin this morning, with further explosions in several other provinces.