Arsonists, rioters and shooters wreaked havoc in many areas of Bangkok on Wednesday after red shirt leaders announced an end of their 45-day protests at the Rajprasong shopping area.
At least 29 places in the city became targets of arsonist attacks, more than 10 of the Bangkok Bank branches, according to Thanom Onketphon, an adviser to the Bangkok governor. Most of the targeted buildings are located near the protest site or not far from where red shirts had gathered, such as the Victory Monument, Din Daeng Delta and the Bon Kai community.
Among the worst hit were the Central World and Zen shopping complexes, which are located just next to the protest site, and the nearby Siam movie theatre in the Siam Square area, he said. Shots were fired at firefighters while they were trying to extinguish the blaze. But there were no reports of injuries among the firefighters.
At least 15 people, including one foreign reporter, were reported to be killed in mayhem on Wednesday.
The Maleenont building, which houses Channel 3 television, was partly damaged after a group of rioters set fire on the lower part of the building and its car park. The fire prompted evacuation of the editorial staff and other occupants of the building, which is located on Rama IV Road not far from where a group of red shirts had gathered.
Channel 3 suspended its broadcast following the arson attack and it will remain off-air today, according to TV Thai.
Government buildings in some other provinces also became targets of arsonist attacks. These included the provincial halls of Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani, and the official residence of the Chiang Mai governor.
A senior editor of the Post Today, a sister publication of the Bangkok Post, told television on Wednesday night that the newspaper's staff also was evacuated following news a group of angry mob was coming to their office. However, the building was safe from any arson attack and there was later a heavy presence of security forces in the area, he said.
A resident of a community located near the Bangkok Bank's Saphan Luang branch, which is close to the Hua Lamphong Railway Station, told TV Thai on Wednesday night that some residents tried unsuccessfully to prevent the arsonists from setting fire on the bank. She said shots were fired at the residents and firemen trying to contain the blaze.
One foreign journalist, an Italian, was killed during mayhem amidst the Army-led mob dispersal operation. At least three other foreign journalists were injured, one of them seriously, according to Jim Pollard, who works for the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand.
A number of Thai reporters and cameramen were also wounded in an attack believed to be conducted by men in black armed with assault rifles and grenades.
Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation on Wednesday requested Criminal Court permission to issue arrest warrants for fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and nine others for alleged act of terrorism, according to DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit.
The court at first approved the request but later withheld the arrest warrant for Thaksin, asking for more time for consideration, Tharit said.