A bomb has exploded outside a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok, killing at least 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounding scores in an attack the government calls a bid to destroy the economy.
Body parts were reportedly scattered across the street after the bomb went off outside the Erawan Shrine in the downtown Chidlom district of the Thai capital.
Several media outlets had earlier reported that 27 people were killed but national police chief Somyot Poompanmuang told reporters the death toll was 16.
Two people from China and one from the Philippines were among the dead, a tourist police officer said.
At least 78 people were wounded, police added, many of whom were taken to the nearby police hospital.
“It was a pipe bomb,” Somyot said. “It was placed inside the Erawan shrine.”
Deputy national police chief Aek Angsananond said a motorcycle was involved in the blast.
Police and ambulances rushed to the scene after the bomb went off around 7:00pm (local time) when the shrine was packed with worshippers and tourists.
The Erawan is a popular shrine to the Hindu god Brahma but is visited by thousands of Buddhist devotees every day.
It is located on a main road through Bangkok’s commercial hub and is surrounded by three major shopping malls.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.
Thailand’s defence minister said bombers had targeted foreigners to try to damage the country’s vital tourist industry.
“It was a TNT bomb … the people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy,” Prawit Wongsuwong said.
A rescue agency said 81 people were wounded and media said most of them were from China and Taiwan.
The government would set up a “war room” to coordinate the response to the blast, local media quoted prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying.