Two people died and more than 380 others were injured in the day-long street battle between Thai police and thousands of anti-government supporters in the capital.
The first casualty was a man who was killed instantly in an explosion at the vehicle he was standing near, not far from the Parliament building where police started firing tear gas at 6.20am to disperse supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The Ramathipbodi Hospital announced Tuesday night that a 25-year-old woman identified as Angkana Radubpunyawut died from serious injuries sustained during the clash between police and protesters at noon.
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s emergency centre, the number of injured rose to more than 380, including 48 who were admitted to hospital.
Most of them had injuries suffered from being hit by tear gas canisters fired by riot police who have been battling the protesters since morning, with clashes continuing at press time around the roads leading to the Parliament building and the Metropolitan Police headquarters.
PAD, which had seized the country’s administration centre at the Government House on Aug 26, led the siege to Parliament last night in an effort to block the government under new prime minister Somchai Wongsawat from giving its policy speech this morning.
Elsewhere in the capital, the situation remained calm, but workers at the Bangkok Port have announced that they would go on strike tomorrow to support PAD.
The PAD’s main tactic appears to be create anarchy in Bangkok to the point that it triggers extra-constitutional intervention either by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej or the military.
