4 killed, 48 injured after bomb thrown into crowd at Thai festival

Four were killed and at least 48 injured after an explosive device was thrown into a crowd during a festival in northern Thailand on Dec. 14.

The attack

The bomb attack took place at Umphang town in Thailand's Tak province, near the border with Myanmar around midnight on Saturday, Thai media reported.

Umphang police said members of the public were watching a dance performance at the annual Paen Din Doi Loy Fah event organised by the Tak Red Cross Society.

Police said that a person was seen throwing the bomb into a group of revellers.

Khaosod reported that the explosion instantly caused chaos, with people rushing to get away.

Many suffered shrapnel wounds, with some needing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene.

Others were conveyed to the emergency room of Umphang Hospital.

Explosive device was homemade bomb: Thai defence ministry

Police said the explosion killed two persons instantly and injured several others at the scene, according to The Nation Thailand.

Two others succumbed to their injuries at Umphang Hospital.

At least 48 others were injured, one of whom is a 14-year-old.

Thanathip Sawangsang, a spokesperson for the Thai defense ministry, disclosed that local police said there was a fight between rival groups of men before the explosion, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Thanathip said that there was no wider security threat.

He added that forensic evidence showed that the explosive device was a homemade bomb.

Two suspects are in custody pending police investigations, AP reported.

More police officers to be deployed at festivals for safety: Thai president

Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and injured, in an X post on Dec. 14.

She said that she has ordered the Thai police and security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Paetongtarn added that she has ordered for more police officers to be deployed at festivals during this period for safety purposes.

Top image from จังหวัดตาก 24 ชั่วโมง/Facebook & เอก เกียรติศักดิ์ แม่สอด../Facebook