Thailand deadly explosion rocks at religious shrine in Bangkok

At least 12 people have died and 20 more wounded after a bomb exploded close to Erawan Shrine, a Hindu shrine in the capital's central Chidlom district, Thailand on Monday evening August 17, according to media reports.

The explosion occurred at about 19:00 local time (12:00 GMT), with police saying it may have been caused by a motorcycle bomb.

''I can confirm it was a bomb, we can’t tell which kind yet, we are checking,'' national police spokesman Lieutenant General Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP.

According to BBC, there are burnt motorbikes on the main road, with paramedics and police trying to take the injured away, he says. The shrine is to the Hindu god Brahma but is also visited by thousands of Buddhists each day.