21 injured in anti-government rally in Bangkok

BANGKOK - At least 21 people were injured in a series of explosions and an anti-government leader was shot in the head at a rally here Thursday evening.

The explosions occurred at around 7.20 p.m. local time in Saradaeng, near Bangkok’s main business area, Silom Road, where an anti-government rally was being taken out.

Anti-government leader Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol suffered a gun wound in his head during the rally. He was immediately rushed to a hospital and is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit, Xinhua quoted Petchpong Kumjornkijjakarn, director of the Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Centre, as saying.

The injured were immediately rushed to hospital, officials said.

Khattiya is facing the prospect of being sacked from the army after the defence ministry found him guilty in “military criminal cases”, an army source told the Bangkok Post.

He may also become the army’s first major general to be stripped of his rank, the source said.