BANGKOK (Reuters) - Six bomb blasts wounded at least four people at three sites in Bangkok on Friday, as the Thai capital hosted a Southeast Asian security meeting with top diplomats from the United States, China and other world powers.

The first small explosions were heard during rush hour, just before 9 a.m. (0200 GMT) at two sites near central Bangkok. A third blast was heard shortly afterwards at a government complex hosting several ministries on the northern side of the city.

Four people were wounded, the Erawan Medical Center said. It added that “none are serious and all are receiving medical attention at hospitals.”

Three of those hurt were women cleaning the street when a bomb went off. Pictures on local websites showed them looking dazed and getting treatment from medics. One was seen being loaded into an ambulance.

The other casualty was from a device that exploded near the 77-storey King Power Mahanakhon building, one of the tallest in the city. Police Colonel Kamtorn Uicharoen told Reuters a total of six bombs exploded. One was recovered before it blew up.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

“I would like to condemn those causing the situation which destroys peace and damages the country’s image,” Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Twitter.

“I have instructed officials to take care of public safety and those affected promptly.”

Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their counterparts from world powers including the United States, China and Russia.

None of the Friday blasts were very close to the meeting venue.

On Thursday, Thai police said they had found two fake bombs near the venue of the regional meeting. The packages prompted a brief security scare but were quickly deemed harmless. It was unclear whether the meeting was the target.

Police said two men had been arrested in connection with the fake bombs.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are attending the forum along with other regional and global officials.

Bangkok was last hit by a series of small bomb blasts in 2017. One man was jailed for planting a bomb that wounded 21 people at a hospital. He was an opponent of the then-military junta, which was led by current prime minister Prayuth. </s> Thai police officers securing an area after a suspicious object is found in Silom Road in Bangkok on Friday. The Thai capital is hosting a regional Asean summit attended by top diplomats.

SIX small bomb blasts wounded at least four people in Bangkok on Friday, as the Thai capital hosted a South-east Asian security meeting with top diplomats from the United States, China and other world powers.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha ordered an investigation into the bombs, a blow to Thailand's image during the high profile event and barely two weeks after his former military junta transformed into a civilian government.

In a message to the public, Mr Prayut said: "A group of ill-intended people have recently incited violence while the government is propelling the country forward". He did not identify the group, but urged Thais to cooperate with security forces. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The first small explosions were heard during rush hour, just before 9am Bangkok time, at two sites in central Bangkok. Further blasts hit a government complex hosting several ministries in the north of the city.

Four people were wounded, the Erawan Medical Center said. Three of those hurt were women cleaning the street when what police called a "ping-pong bomb" went off. Pictures on local websites showed them looking dazed and getting treatment from medics.

The other casualty was near the 77-storey King Power Mahanakhon building, one of the tallest in Bangkok. Police Colonel Kamtorn Uicharoen told Reuters a total of six bombs exploded. One was recovered before it went off. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. None of Friday's blasts were very close to the regional security meeting venue. China's top diplomat Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are attending the forum.

At the summit, talks on the second draft of a maritime code of conduct in the South China Sea between China and South-east Asian countries are due to begin in October, a senior Thai government official told reporters on Friday. Speaking on the sidelines of the regional forum in Bangkok, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arthayudh Srisamoot said the two sides would delve into the specifics of the long-awaited pact after agreeing to the "basic principles". The conclusion of the preliminary reading was confirmed earlier this week. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS </s> Six bomb blasts hit Bangkok early Friday, injuring at least four people, as Thailand was hosting a high-level meeting attended by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterparts from China and other Asia-Pacific countries.

The devices were found or detonated in at least six different locations, including two bombs at stations of the capital’s elevated Skytrain rail system.

Other locations include a government complex on the outskirts of the city, and near the offices of a company associated with supporters of the current Thai government.

Officials say no one was seriously hurt by the explosions. Among the injured were three women cleaning the streets, while a fourth person was wounded after an explosion at one of Bangkok's tallest buildings, the 77-story King Power Mahanakhon building.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered an investigation into the bombings and urged the public not to panic.

“A group of ill-intended people have recently incited violence while the government is propelling the country forward,” Prayuth’s office said in a statement.

“I would like to condemn those causing the situation which destroys peace and damages the country's image,” he also wrote in a tweet.

The bombings come as Thailand is hosting this week the annual meeting of foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), though none of the blasts disrupted the proceedings.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan was asked by the media whether the bombing could be related to the junta’s recent relinquishing of power as Thailand only recently ended five years of military rule following a 2014 coup, though he said “I don’t know either, let authorities investigate first.”

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This isn’t the first time violence occurred as Thailand was hosting an ASEAN event. In 2009, supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – the main rivals of the current prime minister – stormed a hotel in the resort city of Pattaya, where an ASEAN meeting was taking place, in a bid to force out a government of their opponents. The ASEAN leaders were forced to flee, some by helicopter, and the summit canceled.

Authorities said Thursday that they found two fake bombs outside their headquarters in central Bangkok near the venue of the current meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> At least two people have been hurt in the three explosions across the city. The blasts were heard around 8.30am local time. Thai police said they were investigating the cause of the explosions.

A senior police officer said two street cleaners were injured by what appeared to have been a homemade bomb in the Suan Luang district.

There were reportedly two explosions at the BTS Chong Nonsi station and one in Phra Ram 9 road and one at the government's Changwattana building.

Some of the blasts were heard at a government office and others near at least two other sites near central Bangkok.

Bangkok bomb: Explosions went off during rush hour in Thailand

Bangkok explosions: Thai police said they were investigating the cause of the explosions

Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman from the Royal Thai Police, said: "We found a tube used for snacks but inside there was nothing that could cause an explosion.

"The suspect might only wanted to have caused panic.

"There was a small amount of ball bearings in both boxes. There were two boxes in different places and both were in front of the police department.”

On Thursday, Thai police said they had found two fake bombs on Thursday near the venue of the regional security meeting.

The packages prompted a brief security scare but were quickly deemed harmless. It was unclear whether the meeting was the target.

Police said two men had been arrested in connection with the fake bombs.

Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their counterparts from world powers including the United States, China and Russia.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are attending the forum along with other regional and global officials.

A shaken motorcycle taxi rider described the terrifying moment a bomb exploded in Bangkok - outside a building owned by Leicester City's King Power.

Mongkol Hanchai, 35, was at the BTS Nong Chonsi station when the first explosion happened - he then saw the second blast and felt a "shock wave" hit him.

The first blast happened on the sky train platform followed by the another at 8:30am next to the King Power MahaNakhon building, owned by the same company that runs Leicester City FC.

Police in Thailand said at least six bombs detonated at strategic locations around the city injuring several people. </s> Six small bomb blasts wounded at least four people in Bangkok on August 2, as the Thai capital hosted a Southeast Asian security meeting with top diplomats from the United States, China and other world powers.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered an investigation into the bombs, a blow to Thailand's image during the high profile event and barely two weeks after his former military junta transformed into a civilian government.

The first small explosions were heard during rush hour, just before 9 a.m. (0200 GMT), at two sites in central Bangkok. Further blasts hit a government complex hosting several ministries in the north of the city.

Four people were wounded, the Erawan Medical Center said.

Three of those hurt were women cleaning the street when what police called a "ping-pong bomb" went off. Pictures on local websites showed them looking dazed and getting treatment from medics.

The other casualty was near the 77-storey King Power Mahanakhon building, one of the tallest in Bangkok. Police Colonel Kamtorn Uicharoen told Reuters a total of six bombs exploded. One was recovered before it blew up.

"My ears were ringing. The sound was so loud," said motorcycle taxi driver Chokechai Prasongsan, 48.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

"I would like to condemn those causing the situation which destroys peace and damages the country's image," Thailand's prime minister Prayuth said on Twitter.

In a message to the public, Prayuth said: "A group of ill-intended people have recently incited violence while the government is propelling the country forward".

He did not identify the group, but urged Thais to cooperate with security forces.

None of Friday blasts were very close to the regional security meeting venue. China's top diplomat Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are attending the forum.

Bangkok was last hit by a series of small bomb blasts in 2017. One man, a junta opponent, was jailed for planting a bomb that wounded 21 people at a hospital.

The city's worst bombing was in 2015 when 20 people were killed in an attack for which two Chinese ethnic Uighur men were arrested.

A low level insurgency in the largely Malay Muslim provinces of Thailand's far south has left nearly 7,000 people dead since 2004, but violence largely been confined to that region.

Bangkok is currently hosting a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their counterparts from world powers including the United States, China and Russia.

Thai foreign ministry official Arthayudh Srisamoot said the blasts had no impact at the summit. Two fake bombs were discovered nearby on Thursday and police said two people had been arrested in connection with planting them.

The bombs rattled the Thai capital, ranked the world's most visited city by Mastercard last year. The busy Sala Daeng metro station was shut temporarily over a false alarm.

"It has created a climate of terror and in turn it will pile more pressure on the new government and end their honeymoon period," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University.

Prayuth, who first took power in a 2014 coup, has headed a civilian cabinet since mid-July following an election in March that his opponents said was managed to ensure the generals kept power. The most senior cabinet members all served in the junta.

Prayuth nonetheless won strong support from the United States on Friday, with Pompeo telling an event in Bangkok: "We commend our Thai friends for returning to the democratic fold". Subscribe to Moneycontrol Pro and gain access to curated markets data, exclusive trading recommendations, independent equity analysis, actionable investment ideas, nuanced takes on macro, corporate and policy actions, practical insights from market gurus and much more. </s> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that “several U.S. citizens were among those killed” in a series of bomb blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter morning that killed more than 200 people and injured at least 450 others.

The White House in a statement on Sunday condemned the attacks, saying the United States “stands with the Sri Lankan government and people as they bring to justice the perpetrators of these despicable and senseless acts.” </s> U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends the East Asia Summit meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends the East Asia Summit meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. </s> U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks to hold a press conference during Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and affiliated meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is ready to resume talks with North Korea now, although he regrets a meeting between the two sides is unlikely at an Asian security conference this week in Bangkok.

Pompeo says he and his chief negotiator had hoped to meet with a senior North Korean official while in the Thai capital for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum. But he said Thursday that it looked like they would not have the opportunity to do so in Bangkok.

Despite the apparent stand-up by the North, Pompeo said he is “optimistic” that a new round of working level talks will resume soon. His comments come even after the North announced progress in missile tests conducted over the past week. </s> At least four people were injured on Friday when several small bombs went off in the Thai capital, Bangkok, during the morning rush hour, police said.

The explosions sounded as the city hosted a regional security meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with representatives from the United States, China and Russia.

One blast hit the city's Suanluang district, a short distance from the international airport.

"Three people received slight injuries from shrapnel," local official Renu Suesattaya told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

Suesattaya, director of the Suanluang region, said: "I received a report that they are pingpong bombs hidden in bushes by the road."

"Pingpong bombs" are called as such due to their size.

Read more: Thai opposition leader Thanathorn defiant after losing out in PM vote

Government and business districts hit

At least three other bombs detonated in the area around a government complex hosting several ministries on the northern side of the city.

Thai media reported two further blasts near a Skytrain station in the city's Silom business district, including one close to a famous downtown skyscraper.

The Thai government has told the public not to panic following six small explosions in Bangkok

Eyewitnesses said a security guard was hurt close to the 77-story King Power Mahanakhon building. Police cordoned off nearby streets and conducted a full search of the area.

There were unconfirmed reports of several other devices being found across the city. Police said one small explosive was recovered before it blew up.

Read more: Thailand's ruling powers 'increasingly paranoid' about social media: Pravit Rojanaphruk

Two arrests

Two men were reported arrested, though it is unclear what their connection to the bombings may be.

The men were detained after wires and ball bearings were found in an inactive device outside police headquarters. Thai authorities confirmed the discovery was linked to the attacks. However, later information available to DW showed the men had no discernable connection to the attack.

Police head Jakthip Chaijinda said the men originated from the Muslim-majority region bordering Malaysia which is in the midst of a 15-year insurgency that has resulted in nearly 7,000 deaths.

However, the superintendent said it was "too early" to establish a distinct connection to the rebellion.

Prime minister orders probe

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha immediately ordered an investigation into the blasts.

"I would like to condemn those causing a situation which destroys peace and damages the country's image. I have instructed officials to take care of public safety and those affected promptly," he said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts. Thailand has a long history of political violence linked to mass protests, coups and short-lived governments.

Bangkok was hit by a series of small bomb blasts in 2017 in opposition to Thailand's then-military junta. One man was jailed for planting a bomb that wounded 21 people at a hospital.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and China's top diplomat Wang Yi are in the Thai capital on Friday to attend the regional security meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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Multiple bomb blasts hit Bangkok, Thailand, as United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a regional security summit. At least four people are injured.