Pattani: Islamic leaders in the southern provinces have urged the public not to assume the blast at the Erawan shrine on Monday was related to the southern conflict.
Waedueramae Maminchi, president of the Islamic Committee of Pattani, said Tuesday people should consider the facts first. "There has been no evidence to support such an assumption yet," he said.
"I would like to express my sadness to the people affected by the attack," he said.
Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Yanya, president of the Pondok Association in five southern provinces of Thailand, said he doubted the blast was related to the southern insurgency.
"It is unlikely insurgents were involved in the blast in Bangkok," he said. The two leaders spoke out after some media outlets reported the attack could be tied to the insurgency.