BANGKOK — An attack on antigovernment protesters, most likely with a grenade, killed one person and injured more than 30 others Friday in Bangkok, intensifying tensions in the city as a dwindling but dedicated core of protesters continues to block access to a number of government buildings and major intersections.
The blast struck central Bangkok as protesters marched down a narrow street, leaving people dazed and bleeding. It remained unclear hours after the attack who was responsible, with the protesters blaming the government but refusing to allow a forensics team to fully investigate the site because, they said, they do not trust the police.
“The use of a war weapon is of particular concern,” said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher in Thailand at Human Rights Watch. “Thailand cannot allow this cycle to spin into something more dangerous.”
Tensions were already escalating after shooting attacks in recent days, as well as small explosions at the homes of two leaders of a political opposition party that supports the protesters. The attack Friday came as protesters continued to try to “shut down” Bangkok, blocking key intersections in the central business district.
The leader of the protests, Suthep Thaugsuban, cried as he addressed his supporters after the blast, seizing on the assault as another reason for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.