Ως τη χειρότερη επίθεση που έχει σημειωθεί ποτέ στην Ταϊλάνδη προσδιόρισε ο πρωθυπουργός της χώρας την έκρηξη παγιδευμένης μοτοσικλέτας που σημειώθηκε χθες έξω από χώρο λατρείας στην πρωτεύουσα Μπανγκόκ με αποτέλεσμα 22 άνθρωποι να χάσουν τη ζωή τους, σύμφωνα με τελευταίο απολογισμό του πρακτορείου Reuters, εκ των οποίων οι οκτώ είναι ξένοι τουρίστες. Οι τραυματίες φτάνουν τους 123.

Ο Πραγιούθ Τσαν-ότσα δήλωσε πως οι δράστες δεν έχουν αναγνωριστεί αλλά η αστυνομία ερευνά έναν ύποπτο που καταγράφηκε από τις κάμερες ασφαλείας στο τέμενος.

Στόχος της επίθεσης ήταν ο ινδουιστικός ναός Εραουάν, δημοφιλής προορισμός τουριστών.

Η βόμβα εξερράγη στις 7 το απόγευμα τοπική ώρα, όταν ο ναός αλλά και η πολυσύχναστη περιοχή Ratchaprasong όπου βρίσκεται ήταν γεμάτα κόσμο.

«Είναι η χειρότερη επίθεση που έχει γίνει ποτέ στην Ταϊλάνδη. Υπήρξαν μικρές εκρήξεις βομβών αλλά αυτή τη φορά είχαν στόχο ζωές αθώων, θέλουν να καταστρέψουν την οικονομία μας, τον τουρισμό μας», τόνισε ο Ταϊλανδός πρωθυπουργός.

Experts investigate the Erawan shrine at the site of a deadly blast in central Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2015. A bomb blast at a popular shrine in Bangkok that killed 22 people including eight foreigners did not match the tactics used by separatist rebels in southern Thailand, the country's army chief said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

An expert investigates the Erawan shrine at the site of a deadly blast in central Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2015. A bomb blast at a popular shrine in Bangkok that killed 22 people including eight foreigners did not match the tactics used by separatist rebels in southern Thailand, the country's army chief said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Experts investigate the Erawan shrine at the site of a deadly blast in central Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2015. A bomb blast at a popular shrine in Bangkok that killed 22 people including eight foreigners did not match the tactics used by separatist rebels in southern Thailand, the country's army chief said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Experts investigate the Erawan shrine at the site of a deadly blast in central Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2015. A bomb blast at a popular shrine in Bangkok that killed 22 people including eight foreigners did not match the tactics used by separatist rebels in southern Thailand, the country's army chief said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Experts investigate the site of a deadly blast in central Bangkok, Thailand, August 18, 2015. A bomb blast at a popular shrine in Bangkok that killed 22 people including eight foreigners did not match the tactics used by separatist rebels in southern Thailand, the country's army chief said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Medical workers rush the victim of a blast at the Erawan shrine to a nearby hospital in central Bangkok August 17, 2015. The bomb planted at one of the Thai capital's most renowned shrines on Monday killed 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounded scores in an attack the government called a bid to destroy the economy. REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa

Security forces and emergency workers gather at the Erawan shrine, the site of a blast in central Bangkok August 17, 2015. The bomb planted at one of the Thai capital's most renowned shrines on Monday killed 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounded scores in an attack the government called a bid to destroy the economy. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF DEATH AND INJURY The body of a victim covered with a sheet is seen as security forces and emergency workers gather at the scene of the blast in central Bangkok August 17, 2015. The bomb planted at one of the Thai capital's most renowned shrines on Monday killed 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounded scores in an attack the government called a bid to destroy the economy. REUTERS/Chaiwat SubprasomTEMPLATE OUT

Experts investigate the remains of destroyed motorcycles at the Erawan shrine, the site of the blast in central Bangkok August 17, 2015. The bomb planted at one of the Thai capital's most renowned shrines on Monday killed 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounded scores in an attack the government called a bid to destroy the economy. REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa

Bodies of victims are covered with white sheet as security forces and emergency workers gather at the scene of the blast in central Bangkok August 17, 2015. A bomb on a motorcycle exploded on Monday just outside a Hindu shrine in the Thai capital, killing 27 people, including foreign tourists, media reported, in an attack the government said was a bid to destroy the economy. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY