At least 28 hurt in blast at Bangkok opposition march: officials

Bangkok, THAILAND: A Thai anti-government protester points a baton towards a building from where protesters suspected a bomb was thrown on an anti-government protest march in Bangkok on January 17, 2014. A bomb blast struck an anti-government protest march in the Thai capital on January 17, wounding at least 28 people, officials said, sending tensions soaring following weeks of mass opposition rallies. AFP PHOTO/Christophe Archambault

January 17, 2014
BANGKOK (AFP) - A bomb blast at an opposition protest march in Bangkok wounded at least 28 people, emergency officials said Friday, in the latest unrest during a "shutdown" of the capital aimed at ousting the government.

"The latest figure we have is 28 injured," said an official from the city's Erawan emergency centre, in an updated figure.

Bangkok, THAILAND: Thai anti-government protesters hold sticks as they enter a building to search it for attackers after a bomb blast struck an anti-government protest march in Bangkok on January 17, 2014. A bomb blast struck an anti-government protest march in the Thai capital on January 17, wounding at least 28 people, officials said, sending tensions soaring following weeks of mass opposition rallies. AFP PHOTO/Christophe Archambault

She said there were no details of how serious the injuries sustained were.

Police were investigating what type of explosive device caused the blast.

Television footage showed several people lying on the ground as ambulances rushed away the wounded.

Protesters were seen searching nearby buildings for the attackers as police and soldiers arrived on the scene.

Bangkok, THAILAND: A Thai anti-government protester holding a stick watches the upper floor of a building from where protesters suspected a bomb was thrown on an anti-government protest march in Bangkok on January 17, 2014. A bomb blast struck an anti-government protest march in the Thai capital on January 17, wounding at least 28 people, officials said, sending tensions soaring following weeks of mass opposition rallies. AFP PHOTO/Christophe Archambault

"The bomb went off shortly after 1 pm (0600 GMT)," deputy national police spokesman Anucha Romyanan said.

The blast is the latest attack on opposition protesters who have blocked roads and held rallies across the capital in a bid to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and derail upcoming February 2 elections.