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Violence raging across Bangkok despite end of rally

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A curfew is to be imposed across Bangkok Wednesday night, The Nation online quoted Defence Minister General Pravit Wongsuwan as saying as violence and attacks are raging across the capital city soon after the "red-shirts" leaders announced an end to the rally in Ratchaprasong and surrendered to police.

Thailand turmoil

A number of "red-shirts" protestors refused to accept their leaders' resolution to end the two-month-odd rally and began to set fires, according to Bangkok Post online. Billows of thick smoke from fire are seen from various spots across the city. Thai News Agency reported only the Din Daeng area sees more than 20 spots on fire, including one telephone booth. Sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard continually in Din Daeng.

The latest targets of the perpetrators are media headquarters, with the offices of TV channel 3 and Bangkok Post surrounded.

A bomb exploded in Sarasin intersection moments ago, near the red-shirts main rally site Ratchaprasong, and injured at least five soldiers there.

Men in black threw fire bottles at the Central World, right at the Ratchaprasong intersection, and set the first floor of the shopping centre on fire. And according to ASTV, another fire was set at the compound of shopping complex Siam Paragon. By 14:45 the fire at both compounds was under control.

BMTA Director Opas Petmunee said the Mass Transport System in Bangkok has stopped operation after four buses were seized, some of them with drivers and conductors, by perpetrators. One bus was burned near the skystrain Asok station.

The violence and attacks intensified as the red-shirt leaders Wendesday noon announced the end of their over-two-month rally at Bangkok after the troops carried out dispersion operation early morning.

The co-leader Natthawut Saikua asked the protestors to leave the gathering site of Ratchaprasong and to head to National Stadium. He said the red-shirts guards will ensure everyone go back home safely.

Nattawut also said the leaders will go to the National Police Office to surrender.

Gunshot were heard clearly and loudly through live TV broadcast as Nutthawut made the announcement flanked with other leaders. Some leaders left the stage quickly though it was not clear whether anybody under the stage was hurt.

Soon after leaving the stage, five red-shirts leaders including Nattawut and Jatuporn Promphan arrived the National Police Office and turned themselves in to Deputy Natl Police Chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew.

Local media The Nation reported that Arisman Pongruengrong, a "red-shirts" core leader, was caught Wendesday afternoon, hours after he fled the rally site Ratchaprasong in Bangkok,

Arisman Pongruengrong changed his clothes before he managed to sneak his way out from Ratchaprasong at about 10:20 a.m., as the troops were pushing forward to disperse the protestors there.