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Thai police chief links deadly blasts to constitutional referendum

At least 14 explosions have rocked six provinces in Thailand over the past 24 hours taking the lives of four people and injuring 27 others

© EPA/DAILY NEWS

BANGKOK, August 12. /TASS/. Thailand’s national police head said on Friday political forces dissatisfied with the recent constitutional referendum are blamed for the series of deadly blasts in the country.

"All incidents occurred after August 7. Most victims are people who backed the draft constitution," Chakthip Chaijinda said.

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Four killed as multiple blasts rip through Thailand’s tourist hotspots

At least 14 explosions have rocked six provinces in Thailand over the past 24 hours taking the lives of four people and injuring 27 others, local police said earlier on Friday. Major tourist centers such as Phuket Island, the town of Hua Hin, the provinces of Trang, Surat Thani, Phang Nga and Chumphon have been targeted. Arson attacks were also reported in other provinces.

"We are considering this to be links in a chain," spokesman for the national police command Tesa Siriwato told reporters.

Local law enforcement officials have ruled out that international terrorist groups could have been behind the blasts. This is a local act of sabotage aimed at destroying the nation’s tourism industry, they said.

The Thai constitutional referendum was held on August 7. More than 60% of voters backed the draft constitution that could tighten military rule in the country. Many political forces have opposed the document that is due to enter into force in three months. However, all of them have recognized the outcome of the referendum in public.

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