An explosion at an annual festival organized by the Red Cross in Umphang, Tak province, Thailand, has left four people dead and 48 injured, according to local police. The incident occurred late last night when an improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown into a crowd of festival-goers.
The blast killed two people instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries at Umphang Hospital. Among the wounded is a 14-year-old child. Authorities have detained two individuals suspected of involvement in the bombing, which took place just before midnight on Friday.
According to police, the bomber was seen throwing the explosive device at the gathering of people. Investigators believe that the explosive used in the attack was of military-grade quality, based on the scale of the blast. Police are also questioning witnesses to gather more details about the suspect.
The explosion occurred after a fight broke out between rival groups of men, and forensic evidence confirmed the device was homemade. Thailand’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Thanatip Savangsang, said that the local police had provided this information.
Tak province, which borders Myanmar, has a significant military presence, especially in the border areas, including Umphang. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered security personnel and relevant agencies in the area to investigate and assist those affected.
