Bomb blast outside Hindu temple in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead, several injured

A large explosion has hit a shopping district in Bangkok, leaving several injured, as per reports.

Bangkok: A powerful bomb blast rocked Thailand's capital Bangkok on Monday, leaving several dead and many injured, as per media reports.

The blast happened outside a hugely popular Lord Brahma temple in a crowded business district.

At least 27 people, including four foreigners are reported to be dead in the twin blasts.

Of the four foreigners dead, two have been identified as Chinese and a Philipino.

Also, 117 others are said to be injured. 

National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang put the death toll at 16 but Thai TV placed it at 27.

More deaths are feared because of the huge number of injured.

The blast occurred in a space of minutes around 7 pm (5:30 IST) outside Erawan Shrine in downtown Chidlom district, as per PTI.

The temple is located on a main road through Bangkok's commercial hub and is surrounded by three major shopping malls.

However, there were no reports of any Indian casualties in the explosions that caused a huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere.

It is among Bangkok's most popular tourist attractions.

Some of the photos which were posted on social media showed car windows smashed and debris littered on the streets.

เห็นเป็นคนนอนอยู่ ไม่ทราบว่าเสียชีวิตมั๊ย? @js100radio pic.twitter.com/PlDHJeFU1C — IAMPATSAYA (@BOICE_ELF) August 17, 2015

The area has been cordoned off by emergency services, reports said.

Reports also said that the Thai national police chief has confirmed that it was a bomb blast.

Police said first an improvised explosive device fastened to a utility pole in front of the temple at the Ratchaprasong intersection detonated which was immediately followed by a motorbike bomb blast, causing two nearby taxis to explode.

 Police said the bomb was made of 5 kg of TNT explosive. The explosion had a radius of 40 metres.

However, some sources said a bomb was hidden under a roadside bench in front of the Phra Prom (Brahma temple).

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Suspicion revolves around the hand of Muslim separatists in the South and political factions in Bangkok fighting for power.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwong said, "It was a TNT bomb. The people who did it targeted foreigners and to damage tourism and the economy."

The Bangkok Post quoted police as saying that at least two more bombs were defused by officers in the same area.

(With Agency inputs)