BANGKOK, January 17. /ITAR-TASS/. An explosion in the center of Bangkok has wounded 28 people, according to the Center of Emergency Medical Services under the capital’s administration.

An explosive device went off when anti-government protesters were marching down one of the streets in Bangkok. The blast occurred 200 meters away from the protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, witnesses said.

Suthep was not injured in the blast. Witnesses said the explosive device was thrown into the crowd from a three-story building which the demonstrators were passing. Some witnesses say the bomb was thrown from a passing car.

The police and military quickly arrived on the scene. The victims of the blast were hospitalized. Representatives of the self-proclaimed People’s Democratic Reform Committee, who organized protests in Bangkok, said that “the government of Yingluck Shinawatra should take the responsibility for the attack.” Members of the committee, including Suthep Thaugsuban, have already started discussing measures to strengthen security of the protesters.

This is the first time when unknown assailants attacked the demonstrators in daytime. Before that, protesters’ camps were attacked at night, and the attackers fled.

Attacks on protesters

An explosive device was set off in Bangkok’s downtown, near the house of oppositionist Democratic Party’s leader and Thai ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva overnight to Wednesday.

On Thursday night an unknown assailant threw a home-made explosive device at one of the intersections occupied by demonstrators. Injured protesters were taken to the hospital. Another blast went off near the city’s Lumpini Park, which is also occupied by the demonstrators. No one was injured in the attack.

At least 8 people have been killed and more than 450 injured in the political unrest in Bangkok.

What protesters want

The opposition calls for an immediate resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and for the cancellation of snap parliamentary elections. Protesters demand political reforms before the election.

Yingluck has repeatedly stated that she would not resign. She has also refused to move the date of the snap election in the country.