Grenade wounds 8 protesters outside Thai PM’s office

Police Lt. Col. Samreng Songsiang said he inspected the scene where the eight were wounded, and said the explosion was from an M-79 grenade, which are normally fired from launchers.

The protesters have occupied the Government House compound since August and say they will not leave until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns or is overthrown. Their movement has been the focus of several small bomb and grenade attacks, including one last Thursday that killed one person and wounded more than 20.

The latest attack came one day before the protest group that calls itself the People’s Alliance for Democracy plans a mass demonstration at Government House in a final push to bring down the government.

One of the key protest leaders, Chamlong Srimuang, said it will start late Sunday and continue into Monday and is meant to “finish off” the government.

Speaking to the crowd of about 2,000, he said the protesters will march from Government House, but did not name the destination — although most expect it will be Parliament, where the government plans to meet Monday morning.

“It will be the biggest PAD movement to finish off this illegal government,” Chamlong said. “If we cannot drive out this illegal government then we will give up and let them do whatever they want to the country. Everyone in PAD will go back home.”

Saturday’s explosion occurred shortly after 2 a.m. outside the government house compound where guards appointed by the protesters man checkpoints.

No one took responsibility for the blast. Samreng said the grenade was fired from somewhere nearby but could not pinpoint the location or suggest who would have fired it.

Chamlong said the grenade was launched from the headquarters of the Bangkok Metropolitan police about 500 feet (150 meters) away.

“The grenade was fired from the (police) headquarters. This proves the attackers were government security forces or bad guys who are supported by the government,” Chamlong said from the stage at the protest site.

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