Two M79 grenades were fired into the 11th Infantry Regiment base, where the peacekeeping operations command is located, in Bang Khen district early yesterday morning, wounding four soldiers.
This was the first attack on the government's war room during the tense political turmoil.
Quoting night guards on duty, Bang Khen police said the grenades were likely launched from a spot near Bang Bua Temple. The explosives landed on a lawn at about 4.30am during a change in the guard shift. Military investigators have not made any statements about the incident.
More police have been deployed to provide security around the compound off Phaholyothin Road besides the four companies of antiriot personnel already assigned there. More military police and soldiers are stationed inside the compound around the clock.
Later that evening, another Bangkok Bank branch was targeted.
A man shot at the branch in Saphan Khao, causing property damage but no injuries.
A 76yearold man living near the bank said the gunman was surveying the area and tried to gesture at him "to stay away". The unnamed man said he pointed to his ears and motioned back to the gunman that he had a hearing problem.
"The last time he came close to me and whispered in my ear, 'uncle, you stay away, I'm shooting the bank'," he said.
"The man then opened fire on the bank, from a revolver from what I could see, and walked away calmly," he added.
Another eyewitness, a drink vendor, said the gunman was in his 40's and wore a protective mask, blue shirt and dark jacket.
The bank's glass door had five bullet holes but no spent cartridges were found.
A group of media associations issued a statement condemning the grenade attacks on Armyrun Channel 5 and staterun NBT on Saturday night, saying that although both stations were serving as government mouthpieces, violence was not justified.
The umbrella group also called for safety and security for journalists in the field covering protest sites or political and religious conflicts.
Members of the media were reminded to abide by their professional ethics and ensure unbiased coverage.
The group, which represents the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and Thai Journalists Association, also urged police to bring the attackers and those behind the assaults to justice.
