Three dead and dozens injured by a bomb at a Thai festival

At least three people were killed and dozens more injured after an explosive was thrown into a crowd at a festival in Thailand.

The attack took place shortly before midnight local time on Friday at the Doi Loyfa Red Cross fair, held annually in Umphang district in the northern province of Tak.

Two suspects are detained, but no charges have been filed, the Associated Press and local media report, citing Thai police.

At least 48 people were injured, six of whom are seriously injured, police said.

Police were alerted to the incident at 11:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. GMT) on Friday.

In a statement, the Umphang rescue team said the explosive was thrown and landed at the foot of an open-air stage where festival-goers were dancing.

Some of the injured were taken to a nearby hospital, he added.

Several reports suggest that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Images taken afterwards, shared by the rescue team, show debris scattered on the ground in an area of ​​the festival adorned with lights.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the attack in a post on X.

He said he had ordered police and security agencies to investigate the cause of the blast and help those affected. He also ordered an increase in police officers to supervise all festival events.

According to the Bangkok Post, between 8,000 and 9,000 people attended the week-long festival this year, and the attack took place on the penultimate night of the event.

Umphang is the southernmost district of Tak province in northern Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar to the west.