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                Bangkok On Edge as Shrine Opens Following Blast

   by VOA News

   A Bangkok shrine where a bombing killed at least 22 people has reopened
   to the public, as Thai authorities continued searching for a man they
   view as the prime suspect and mull possible motives for the attack.
   Monks led prayers and residents left flowers and other tributes
   Wednesday at the popular Erawan shrine, the site of the late Monday
   attack in the heart of the Thai capital that also left over 120 people
   wounded.
   Grainy security camera footage appears to show a slender, young man
   with shaggy dark hair and a yellow shirt leave a backpack under a bench
   and calmly walk away from the scene, shortly before the blast.
   Authorities say that man is likely the bomber, but have not ruled out
   that others are involved. No one has claimed responsibility for the
   attack, which Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said is "the worst
   incident that has ever happened in Thailand."

   "The ongoing attempts at destruction might be politically motivated,
   targeting the economy, tourism for whatever reason," the prime minister
   said Tuesday in a televised address.  "The government will work to find
   those perpetrators and bring justice upon any networks involved as soon
   as possible."
   The city of over 6 million remains on edge, especially after another
   explosion went off Tuesday near a transit station in Bangkok's
   riverside. Police said the small device was thrown from a bridge. CCTV
   footage showed it falling into the water before it detonated, sending
   water high into the air but causing no injuries.
   The late Monday blast hit central Bangkok's commercial Ratchaprasong
   intersection, close to the popular open-air Erawan Hindu shrine. Those
   killed in the explosion include at least six Thais, four Malaysians,
   three Chinese, one Singaporean, one Philippine national and two Hong
   Kong residents, a reflection of the shrine's popularity among Asian
   tourists.

   Australian tourist Grace Evans from Queensland said the bombing
   occurred less than two kilometers from her hotel and left her deeply
   upset.

   "It's just too close to home. I mean we could have been at that shrine
   as far as I'm concerned. We went past it - we could have been [there],
   because we do those kind of things - we go to temples, we do that kind
   of thing... I just feel in my heart there is more to come, I really do
   and that's why I really, really want to go home," she said.

   The Erawan shrine is located on one of the capital's busiest
   intersections, across the street from Bangkok's police headquarters.
   The city's two elevated train lines both pass above the shrine, while a
   steady stream of tourists and worshippers make offerings and take
   photos throughout the day.
   The economic impact is already being felt.  The Thai baht has slumped
   to a six-year low against the U.S. dollar.  Investors widely sold Thai
   stocks on Tuesday with the SET index closing down 2.56 percent.  Tour
   operators are confirming immediate cancellations by those too
   frightened to travel to the kingdom.

   While Thai authorities say they have not confirmed who was behind the
   attack, they did not rule out a link with the country's turbulent
   domestic politics.
   "The ongoing attempts at destruction might be politically motivated,
   targeting the economy, tourism for whatever reason.  The government
   will work to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice as soon as
   possible," said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

   The shrine's location is close to areas that have been occupied over
   the years by different political factions opposing the ruling
   government.

   In 2010, government opponents occupied the area for weeks until the
   army violently pushed them out, which led to several deaths and arson
   attacks on nearby shopping centers. The area was again occupied by
   another group of anti-government demonstrators in 2014, which led to
   the removal of the government led by Yingluck Shinawatra and then the
   military coup.

   For the past year, Thailand's military government has banned protests
   and suspended democracy, while insisting that the country is not yet
   ready for another election.

   VOA's William Gallo, Ron Corben, Steve Herman and Chris Hannas
   contributed to this report.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/bangkok-on-edge-as-shrine-opens-follo
   wing-blast/2923559.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/bangkok-on-edge-as-shrine-opens-following-blast/2923559.html