Market bomb blast leaves 6 injured in southern Thailand

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Six people were injured when a bomb exploded at a market in Trang, southern Thailand today, but the authorities were quick to rule out any element of terrorism in the incident.

Trang governor Detchart Simsiri said the 3pm (local time) explosion at the Centre Point market was not linked to terrorism activity but internal conflicts among market vendors as the possible cause.

"Investigations into the motive of the bomb explosion is ongoing, but it is focused on internal conflicts in the market," he told reporters at the scene of the incident today.

An explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team from the local security forces, according to the governor, had cordoned off the area and was currently conducting indepth investigations into the bomb explosion.

Detchart said several eyewitnesses saw a bag, believed to contain a bomb, was hurled towards a bus stop near the market from a passing car just before the explosion.

Six of the injured were sent to the nearest local hospitals, he said.

In an immediate statement, Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawich said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan had instructed the authorities to investigate the motives behind the explosion.

Prawit, he said, wanted to know if the explosion was related to any group while at the same time urged the authorities to monitor the situation.

"Initial investigations did not find any link between the bombing incident and the southern border conflict. It was more due to internal conflicts (in the market)," said Kongcheep.

– Bernama