Assailants threw a grenade into a crowd of anti-government protesters occupying a bridge, wounding 10 people ahead of a demonstration Thursday outside the British Embassy, the victims and police said.
About 1,000 protesters went ahead with the demonstration demanding the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now a fugitive and living in London. The former prime minister was convicted in absentia earlier this month of violating a conflict of interest law and sentenced to two years in prison.
Anti-government protesters said two assailants arrived by motorcycle, with one dismounting and throwing the explosive before they both sped off, police Col. Viboonyut Santavej said. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack or for another blast outside the home of a Constitutional Court judge that caused no injuries.
All of the wounded protesters were guards for the People's Alliance for Democracy, police Capt. Pompet Chotelang said. The guards have a reputation for violent behavior, and some are known to carry guns.
The attack on protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy took place on a bridge that they have occupied since May. It is about 500 yards from the compound housing the prime minister's offices, which they took over in late August.
They say they will not leave until allies of Thaksin are out of power.
They accuse Thaksin of corruption and current Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law, of being his proxy. Somchai has been forced to operate out of a makeshift office at Bangkok's old international airport.
They also demanded that the government take responsibility for violence on Oct. 7 when the police and protesters clashed, leaving two people dead and more than 400 injured.
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