Children killed by grenade in Thailand protests

The attack was near the Ratchaprasong junction, home to major shopping malls and luxury hotels.

It followed another assault on anti-government protesters in eastern Thailand on Saturday night that killed a young girl and wounded dozens of other people.

In the most recent attack a six-year-old girl, Patcharakorn Yos-ubon, has died from brain and liver injuries, a day after her four-year-old brother, Korawit, and a 59-year-old woman were killed. A nine-year-old boy suffering from brain and lung damage remains in intensive care.

Erawan centre said the violence left 21 others injured.

The attacks were the latest in a spate of protest-related violence in Thailand over the past three months, with at least 18 people killed and hundreds hurt.

The protesters, who are occupying several key junctions in Bangkok, want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to quit to make way for an “people’s council”, but she has refused.

On Saturday night, a five-year-old girl was killed and about three dozen people wounded at an anti-government rally in the eastern province of Trat.

Both sides in the continuing political dispute have blamed the other for instigating violence.

Protest leader Sathit Wongnongtoey said yesterday’s explosion was caused by a grenade.

While the protesters have failed repeatedly to force Ms Yingluck out through self-declared deadlines, they have blocked the prime minister from working. The protesters also have delayed completion of early elections called by Ms Yingluck, undermining efforts to restore political stability.

“I strongly condemn the use of violence in recent days that has caused many deaths both in Trat province and, especially, at Ratchaprasong today, which is particularly saddening and disturbing since the lives of children were lost,” she said last night.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the violence and for those responsible to face justice.