Update 2 | Four dead, 35 injured as bombings in Thailand continue

A series of co-ordinated blasts went off in the Thailand within 24 hours, killing four people and injuring 35 others, including seven foreign tourists.

The multiple explosions took place in least five separate locations across Thailand, namely Hua Hin, Phuket, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Trang.

Two of the victims died on Thursday, one in the town of Hua Hin, and one in Trang province. The other two died in the second wave of attacks on Friday, one in Hua Hin and one in Surat Thani province.

Authorities have released a list of 10 names of foreign tourists injured in the Thursday night blasts in Hua Hin, including two Dutch men, a Dutch woman, and seven others ranging in age from 16 to 48.

Early on Friday morning, Thai police confirmed that they completely ruled out the insurgent groups from the south as being behind the attacks. They consider it a case of domestically inspired ‘local sabotage’. Police added that they have detained suspects but the group or motivation is still unclear.

The timing is sensitive as Thais mark a long weekend for the queen's birthday. The blasts this morning at Hua Hin took place at the town’s clock tower following a short ceremony.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered security to be increased across urban areas and areas popular with tourists.

“The PM has issued emergency orders to the relevant agencies in the areas to prevent other bombing incidents from happening again, increase the security in the crowd areas, and appoint those who are responsible to handle the situation in an emergency event,” government spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

The Guardian reports that security services are increasing presence across tourist destinations and transport hubs. Phuket international airport, and some railways stations and roads, it says, have been closed in affected provinces.