Central Shopping Mall - Koh Samui BOMBED

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 2:00 am

Just in

http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-n ... 7299458352

This will really nail tourist numbers for 2015 IMO

Post by **noosard** » April 11, 2015, 6:58 am

Now this is a big problem

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 7:07 am

Samui must be in the top 5 tourist destinations.

Phuket. Pattaya. Bangkok. Chiang Mai.

2nd most popular spot for Aussies apparently. Phuket being first.

Post by **noosard** » April 11, 2015, 8:04 am

News reports for this have been crap
I picked up from a NZ paper, not seen in an Aussie paper yet

Post by **BobHelm** » April 11, 2015, 8:08 am

The BBC

Thailand explosion: Seven injured in Koh Samui

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32259612
A report & picture - mostly quoted from The Samui Times I think..

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 8:12 am

noosard wrote:News reports for this have been crap
I picked up from a NZ paper, not seen in an Aussie paper yet

Noosard

The link i posted was from Australia.

Post by **noosard** » April 11, 2015, 8:18 am

Thanks Wazza
I looked at that first
Didn't go into breaking news
NZ hearld had it on the opening page
Bangkok Post you have to dig for it

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 8:30 am

With the Ferry tragedy and this all in a week I imagine a lot of under reporting from The Junta.

Reputation of Tourist Industry threatened again.

Post by **Zidane** » April 11, 2015, 8:34 am

This from the Sydney Herald.....

Car bomb explodes in Thailand's Koh Samui on eve of holidays
Date
April 11, 2015 - 10:02AM
Lindsay Murdoch

Some 10 people were injured when a car bomb exploded in the basement of a shopping mall in the popular tourist resort of Koh Samui in Thailand overnight.
The island's disaster prevention chief Poonsak Sophonpathumrak told journalists the bomb was hidden in a Honda believed to have been stolen from one of three southern Thai provinces where an ethnic insurgency has killed more than 6000 people, many of them civilians, over the past decade.
Islamic militants seeking a level of autonomy in the provinces bordering Malaysia have not previously targeted civilians in Thailand's tourist areas.
Thai authorities are investigating possible links with insurgency.
If the bomb is proven to be linked to the insurgency it would send alarm bells ringing through Thailand's security agencies only days after junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha gave himself the powers of a dictator.
The bomb went off in the basement of the Central Festival shopping mall after a fashion show at 11.30pm Friday.
The force of the blast left debris scattered over a wide area, leaving the vehicle's mangled engine block and undercarriage.
The island of Koh Samui is a popular tourist destination for Australians.
Local Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatput said a fire that occurred at a warehouse at the same time at the Sahakorn Coop food centre in Surat Thani may have been caused by explosives.

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 8:45 am

The DFAT Smart Traveller Site for Ozzies hasn't been updated since 3/4

I expect a possible comment after this tragic incident.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/ ... e/Thailand

Post by **FrazeeDK** » April 11, 2015, 8:52 am

the southern insurgency has rarely acted outside their home provinces.. This would be a sea change in their tactics and something requiring an immediate response from the government..

Post by **GT93** » April 11, 2015, 9:11 am

I was reading between the lines that it was a red shirt action to put pressure on the government.

Post by **kubotatim** » April 11, 2015, 9:13 am

What government, self appointed junta, tourism here is finished for years.

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 9:37 am

The timing of 2330 / 1130.pm suggests they want to scare the FUK out of Central..massive player on the Thai scene.

Its going to cost them Millions in $ now as Thais and tourists will boycott them.

I see it as Thailands 9/11. Not the tragic numbers but a symbolic strike on a huge brand name for Thailand. Tourist Mecca also.

They got burnt out in BKK years ago and rebuilt . That was thai politics.

This has changed things IMO

Post by **Macca** » April 11, 2015, 9:41 am

wazza wrote:The timing of 2330 / 1130.pm suggests they want to scare the FUK out of Central..massive player on the Thai scene.

I see it as Thailands 9/11. Not the tragic numbers but a symbolic strike on a huge brand name for Thailand. Tourist Mecca also.

Very fortunate there were no fatalities and agree seems to be timed so as to scare rather than maim.
But as for affecting tourism I am not so sure as doubt it will get any significant media coverage other than here in Thailand

Post by **wazza** » April 11, 2015, 9:50 am

BBC and Oz news services running with it immediately.

im waiting for the next Oz update. Which sometimes get a news bump as well.

The Junta will pressure the Ambassadors to keep it down..all under control but that will be water off a ducks back IMO.

Not likely to be a small bunch of illegals from Myanmar this time to blame.

Post by **BobHelm** » April 11, 2015, 9:54 am

wazza wrote:Not likely to be a small bunch of illegals from Myanmar this time to blame.

No, but whenever I ever read anything Thai about the troubles in the South, they are always blamed on 'insurgents', presumably from Malaya or beyond...

Post by **GT93** » April 11, 2015, 10:01 am

I think few will be put off Thailand over this. No farang were killed. It's not like a plane full of one hundred plus passengers disappearing. It's hardly newsworthy in other countries. Perhaps just a couple of reports today and that's it. I hope that's the case.

Post by **merchant seaman** » April 11, 2015, 10:04 am

Won't help the plea from Prayut for Thai's to spend more money over Songkron holiday to help boost the economy.

Post by **jai yen yen** » April 11, 2015, 10:20 am

This was bound to happen, people will fight back however they can if they feel strong enough about things. Just because you have the money and the guns does not mean you can push people too far. I used to go to Patong and would wonder if a bomb in the busy tourist area would ever happen. Thousands of people packed together in the bar area, would be very bad. I hope it does not happen but I wont be surprised if it does.