HUA HIN, Thailand: Thai authorities on Saturday hunted for culprits behind a wave of bombings targeting popular holiday destinations, as businesses braced for the economic fallout from the attacks on the crucial tourism industry.
The kingdom was on edge after 11 small bombs and a series of suspected arson attacks exploded across five southern provinces Thursday night and Friday morning, killing four locals and wounding more than 30 people — including foreign tourists.
The bombs, most of them detonated in twin blasts, struck key tourism hubs during a long weekend, including the seaside resort town of Hua Hin and the island of Phuket.
No one has claimed responsibility for the coordinated attack, but police have ruled out international terrorism and said the campaign was an act of “local sabotage”.
Police said the motive behind the bombings was still unclear, but stressed it was not connected to a simmering insurgency in Thailand’s south, as some analysts have suggested.
“I can assure you that this is not a terrorist attack or the expansion of militants from the three southernmost province,” deputy police commissioner Ponsapat Pongcharoen told reporters.
