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Subscribe to RSSA suspected Iranian man is severely injured in Thailand after a grenade explodes on a Bangkok street. Msnbc's Chris Jansing reports the incident could escalate tensions between Israel and Iran, whom Israel accuses of several assassination attempts on its citizens.
BANGKOK -- An Iranian man carrying grenades blew off his own legs and wounded four civilians Tuesday after an earlier blast shook his house in Bangkok, Thai authorities said. The explosions came a day after an Israeli diplomatic car was bombed in India — an attack Israel blamed on Iran.
Authorities said it's unclear whether the Bangkok explosions were linked to the New Delhi attack, but in Jerusalem Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said, "we can't rule out any possibility."
Thai security forces found more explosives in a house where the Iranian man was staying in Bangkok, but the possible targets were not known, Police Gen. Pansiri Prapawat said.
A passport found at the scene of one blast indicated the assailant was Saeid Moradi from Iran, Pansiri said. Authorities in Tehran could not immediately be reached for comment.
PhotoBlog: Graphic photo of bomb scene
Tuesday's violence began in the afternoon when a stash of explosives apparently detonated by accident in Moradi's house, blowing off part of the roof. Police said two foreigners quickly left the residence, followed by a wounded Moradi.
"He tried to wave down a taxi, but he was covered in blood, and the driver refused to take him," Pansiri said. He then threw an explosive at the taxi and began running.
Police who had been called to the area then tried to apprehend Moradi, who hurled a grenade to defend himself. "But somehow it bounced back" and blew off his legs, Pansiri said.
EPA
A member of Thailand's explosives disposal unit inspects the scene of a bomb blast that injured a man thought to be Iranian on a roadside in Bangkok Tuesday.
Photos of the wounded Iranian showed him covered in dark soot on a sidewalk strewn with broken glass. He lay in front of a Thai primary and secondary school. No students were reported wounded.
A motorcycle taxi driver who arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion said he saw the man identified as Moradi lying on the ground with his leg blown off.
"Luckily school hadn't finished yet, otherwise there would be more injuries," Dechchart Puangket told NBC News.
A dark satchel nearby was investigated by a bomb disposal unit. Pansiri said police found Iranian currency, US dollars and Thai money in the bag.
Three Thai men and one Thai woman were brought to Kluaynamthai Hospital for treatment of injuries, said Suwinai Busarakamwong, a doctor there.
The blasts came a day after bomb attacks targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia. Israel accused Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of being behind those attacks. Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist group backed by Syria and Iran that is on the official U.S. blacklist of foreign terrorist organizations.
An Israeli official told news website Ynet that the Bangkok explosions appeared to be a "bombing gone wrong."
Second Iranian detained
Another Iranian was detained Tuesday night at Bangkok's international airport as he attempted to leave for neighboring Malaysia, said police commander Winai Thongsong. Authorities were interrogating the man, but it was not yet known whether he was involved in Tuesday's blasts.
Kerek Wongsa / Reuters
Tuesday's violence began when a stash of explosives apparently detonated by accident in a Bangkok house, blowing off part of the roof.
While Thai officials declined to speculate on whether the two men they had detained were involved with any militant group,
Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak blamed Iran.
"The attempted terrorist attack in Bangkok proves once again that Iran and its proxies continue to perpetrate terror,'' Barak said on a visit to Singapore.
"Iran and Hezbollah are unrelenting terror elements endangering the stability of the region, and endangering the stability of the world,'' said Barak, who spent a few hours in Bangkok on Sunday.
Israel accuses Iran of bombings in India, Georgia
Last month, a Lebanese-Swedish man with alleged links to pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants was detained by Thai police. He led authorities to a warehouse filled with more than 8,800 pounds of urea fertilizer and several gallons of liquid ammonium nitrate.
Israel and the United States at the time warned their citizens to be alert in the capital, but Thai authorities said Thailand appeared to have been a staging ground but not the target of any attack.
Immigration police are trying to trace Moradi's movements, but initial reports indicated he flew into Thailand from Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 8, Pansiri said. He landed at the southern Thai resort town of Phuket, then stayed in a hotel in Chonburi, a couple hours drive southeast of Bangkok, for several nights.
Bangkok's blasts came one day after bombs targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. The attack in India wounded four people, while the device found in Georgia did not explode. Iran has denied it was responsible.
Israeli police have increased the state of alert in the country, emphasizing public places, foreign embassies and offices, as well as Ben-Gurion International Airport.
Thailand has rarely been a target for foreign terrorists, although a domestic Muslim insurgency in the country's south has involved bombings of civilian targets.
NBC News, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- Al-Qaida's top man in Europe freed from British jail
- US sports diplomacy's latest target: Afghanistan
- Bahrain police fire tear gas at protesters
- Afghanistan combat outpost 'Aryan' draws protest
- Malaysia deports Saudi accused of prophet insult
Leave a Comment:
Curious: is there any country in the world that bans Muslims altogether?
Not sure but there is only one country that is racist and bigoted enough to only have one race in political, government & civil jobs and that is Isreal.
Yes... The Peoples Republic Of Jimmy Dean!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
doubt it
There's an Arab on the Israeli Supreme Court--Salim Joubran. Look it up, genius!
Ah the one token non-jew they got so people like you can point to him and say see we are not racist..
This was the work of a terrorist mastermind. (snicker-snort-small fart)
The man is now a partial Martyr and should be sent home to Iran so he can receive his reward
First they would have to "de-brief" him in Isreal.
Ha ha ha! Justice is served. Now why would an Iranian terrorist be in Bangkok, in the Embassy District? Maybe he was going to do what he was told to do and attack another embassy. Then the Iranian government could say it wasn't them and that it must be the US or Israel just trying to make it look like them. Yet, there are many out there that thinks Iran would be okay to have nuclear capability...they are as idiotic as the moron that blew his own leg off.
It seems that as I sit and gather my news from aggregate sources (to attempt a balanced picture), I see patterns and trends emerge. I am no one special or have training in trends. One such is that whenever there is a reported bombing of terror, Muslims are involved. World wide. From my tiny town to New York City, around the globe this is the case.
I can not be the only human in the world that has come upon this notion. All I wonder is: what's this mean? CAN it continue? WILL it? Forever? WHY?
Another idiot that believes the old farts that there are 70 virgins waiting for him. When will they ask the old farts, if this is such a good idea why aren't you strapping bomb on your butt?
These rogue terrorist nations such as iran use the educated as well as the under educated to carry out these acts of terrorism.
The world has changed for all of us since 911, not for the good, this was part of their original plan.
The bush administration attacks iraq, irans sworn enemy, only to open up a pandoras box of death and hate across the world.
Make no mistake about it the muslim religion is a religion of intolerance and hate. I don't care what any of them say. They aid and abet terrorists around the globe by saying nothing and claiming to be peaceful.
It's only a matter of time before we have all been personally touched by these deceitful, hateful, demons of death.
It is to bad the world powers are to much a bunch of pussy's to put an end to this. Both russia and china have bloody hands in this whole ugly affair.
There is really nothing very funny about this event.
The Mossad plant this tree! I bleam Israel for planting tree all around the word to be protected by the Moslems.
Oh btw.....they planting trees agains atomic boms as well
We need to bring all our troops back to the US and bolster our security here at home. We can then just sit up in the bleachers and watch all those crazies over there go nuts on each other. A spectator sport of a sorts. Haha
Not while Israel wags our tail!
Reminds me of a Road Runner cartoon.
Another ACME brand gone wrong! Beep, Beep.
What an embarrassment to his Muslim religeon. Especially here around Valentines day. Those 70 virgins were so excited about seeing this guy for the Holiday. Now, because he was such a dumb$hit they are going to have to wait till he gets another stab at bombing something else... lol. That'll add about another 65 years to virgin their lives! They aren't going to be looking so young when he finally gives up the ghost!!!!!!!!!!! Does the Koran say how old those virgins are supposed to be that they wind up with? You know... that might not be what they think it is. Getting 70 ninety year old virgins just doesn't stir any passion inside me!!!!!! NO SOUP FOR HIM!!!!!!!!
He is definitely cut off......right below the hip or knee.
karma
I know it is not officially Arbor day. . . . but I think I’ll go out and plant a tree
today. And that tree in Bangkok should receive a medal. . or at least a nice
ornament. That’s what I call having “One leg up” on terrorism.
Pretty pathetic reporting. First: The bomber threw a bomb at the police, which bounced off a tree and exploded near the bomber, maiming him. Second: The taxi driver saw the man with his leg blown off. Third: The police arrived AFTER the blast by the taxi, the bomber attempted to throw ANOTHER bomb but it exploded BEFORE he was able to (i.e., did not bounce off the tree.)
Was there ONE bomb or TWO? Did the police arrive BEFORE or AFTER the blasts? Did he throw the bomb at the police, or did he fail to? Did the bomb bounce off a tree or did it explode before he could throw it? The twitter pic purportedly shows the man with BOTH legs blown off. The SECOND bomb blew off one leg and injured the second (how did the bomb injure the leg that was already blown off by the first bomb?). How did he throw the FIRST bounced-off-the-tree bomb at the police when police arrived AFTER the blasts?
Anybody has any idea on exactly what the hell happened?
"The man was maimed after a bomb he threw at police bounced off a tree and exploded near him, The Bangkok Post reported."
"A motorcycle taxi driver who arrived at the scene just after the blasts said he saw the bomber lying beside a shattered telephone box.
"When I got there, I saw a man lying down with his leg blown off,”
"Government spokeswoman Thitima said police had tried to move in and arrest the man after blast by the taxi, but he attempted to throw another bomb at them. However, it went off before he was able to do that, blowing one leg off and wounding the other."
Iran denied involvement. OK Must not be them cuz they never lie. All of this bombing of innnocents is a cowards way. Verify that this is an Iranian and take it to the world community. Israel should not be blowing up nuclear scientists either, if they are. Maybe a confronation with Iran is inevitable. Atatollah and I-bin-in-a -job seem to be itching for a fight
now the new 3rd world war, freak in sick bastards. keep letting the sick bastards in the Usa. OBAMA
Bwahahahahahaha! Funniest thing I read today. Classic "hoist with his own petard"! I'm sure the loser jabberwockyed will come along soon with a reply, but I enjoy agitating neo-Nazi pinheads such as him. If it was within his power, I am sure he would create a second Holocaust. He could not have chosen a more appropriate name, since his posts truly read like the Lewis Carroll poem. I particularly enjoy how he makes it obvious to all that his panties are in a serious bunch. And his dentist is happy that he gets to replace his crowns on a regular basis because of his grinding his teeth. Jabber is definitely in the running for "King of Tinfoil". So, I'm waiting to hear from the pinhead. Heheheheheheh! 5...4...3...2...
The articial said a bombing gone wrong, I don't think it went wrong,the bomber lived! he will wish he died when the Thailand military gets done with him
I agree. They should change the title to "a bombing gone very right".
The only good Iranian is a dead one. This clown could die and there would be no change in the world. These terrorists are ignorant asnd stupid.
Was he operating on his own? Or was he operating under the direction of the Iranian government? Hopefully having survived he will be able to give information that will help track down whoever is responsible for this act!
Israel= Several Dead Iranian Nuclear Scientists with 100% efficiency
Iran= Several Dead Bombers with a few scratched diplomats and a busted bus stop.
The Israeli's called it a "bombing gone wrong?" Sounds like a bombing gone right to me! Stupid is as stupid does.
This is absolute bull crap. "Thought to be Iranian". No proof what so ever and IRANIAN is the big headline. How could they possibly know it was an Iranian so soon after the incident. Do they have insta investigations over there or something? Don't buy into it people. It just so happens that greece is about to fall and all the sudden Iran is randomly bombing things around the world. The system is about to collapse and they need someone to blame it on. And suddenly Russia has had a change of heart about Syria. My god, what is happening here? There is something very sinister going on behind the scenes. Oh, and obama wants to give millions in aid to Syrian "rebels" now as well. Here we go....
They probably checked his pockets and found a PASSPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anyone wants video proof of just how racist and bigoted Israel is just go to youtube and type in "How Jews Treat" and click on one of the first few thousand videos. You will see Palastenian children being stoned every morning they try to go to school and then hear Jews say "Tell them to go to school and not make bombs" in the news. You will see Christians being run out of the market square because the racist zionist think they might lose a dollar. You will see Christians being threatened and killed by racist jews. Then ask yourself why are we sending billions a year to fund these bigots.
I want what you are smoking and i will gladly pay an arm and a leg. Oops i meant an arm skip the leg part
Yes I have to be smoking something to reference actual videos of israeli racism and crime towards all non-jews. The best thing Palestine could do is put video cameras up on every house and put a direct uplink to youtube. Of course then Isreal would ban houses in palestine like they have everything else from chocolate (the deadly terrorist weapon) to clean drinking water.
Iran is "EXTREMELY" peaceful and they would "NEVER DO THESE TERRIBLE THINGS" and i believe them when they say they want to use nuclear fuel for peaceful things. Now do YOU want what i am SMOKING and it won't cost you an arm.
So what was Israel's excuse when they built illegal nuclear weapons?
You are misssing the point "IRAN" and we may include with your permission of course "SYRIA" where all problems are due to result of "ISRAEL". If "ISRAEL" would stop undermining these "PEACEFUL GOVERNMENTS" or another words "ARAB SPRING" would never had happened and everybody would "LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER".
If we may also include with your"PERMISSION" what happened in EGYPT in the past year. Again another "ZIONIST PLOT".
All of this is due TO "ISRAEL PLOTS" and the leader of SYRIA is just eliminating trouble makers in his own counry and the President of IRAN believes the WORLD would be better off if ISRAEL were wiped off the MAP and everybody in IRAN would be happy.
BTW if i told you i was coming to your house to whack you and the neighborhood where you lived would be better without you, are you going to welcome me with open arms or are you going to protect yourself.?
Now if you believe that crap just send me your physical address and i will send you some Top Grade "S_IT" and it won't cost you an appendage
Think for yourselves people. Read and comprehend. The tittle says "Iranian" then states thought to be. More war machine propoganda. Dont buy it.