Bar owner from Mid Wales tells of Bangkok bomb horror

Gavin Cox, 45, has a bar close to the Erawan Hindu shrine, where the explosion happened.

Mr Cox, who is originally from Welshpool, said he had been horrified by some of the scenes he witnessed.

He said he is "lucky" to be far enough away from the scene to avoid seeing the full extent of the horror.

He said: "There are nasty scenes here as you'd imagine. I'm fine, although hundreds clearly aren't.

"It's a major intersection, the main shopping area and had many hotels so I'd be surprised if no tourists have been caught up in it all.

"I was at work and heard the blast. It was a cross between a thunderclap and a mini earthquake. There was a lot of smoke and an acrid smell of burning rubber.

"I was close enough to see the smoke and panic but fortunately not close enough to see the full extent of the horror. I know a reporter from the BBC went straight into the shrine area where all the bodies were, but I couldn't stomach it.

"Many people in the business district were unaware and we still have a glut of tourists in the bar areas. Time will tell but believe me, Thailand is still very much a safe place for tourists to come. These things are incredibly rare here."

Despite that, Mr Cox said he has ordered security at his bar, The Stumble Inn, to be extra careful.

"They are being extra vigilant, checking bags and to be aware of randomly parked motorbikes. My staff are very anxious naturally but it's business as usual until the army tells us otherwise.

"My bar is just one stop further down the sky train line from where it happened and there were rumours going around of more bombs."

Video footage has emerged of a key suspect police want to question in connection with the blast.

The footage, from a CCTV camera, shows a man in a yellow shirt leaving a backpack in the shrine.

Authorities said they were very confident the man in the images was responsible for the attack.

Police said he was "not just the suspect" and claimed he was definitely responsible for the attack that killed 22 people.

"The yellow shirt guy is not just the suspect. He is the bomber," Police Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri said.

Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha suggested there could be more than one suspect.

In his first televised address since the blast, he told the nation that the Government will expedite "all investigative efforts to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice".

He also promised foreigners living in Thailand that the Government would do its best to safeguard their security, property and interests.

It was confirmed last night that at least one British national was among those killed in the attack.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The loss of life and injury in Bangkok is horrific and I condemn this callous act of violence against completely innocent and unsuspecting members of the public.

"I can confirm that one British national, a resident of Hong Kong, lost her life in the attack. British Embassy staff in Thailand are assisting her family at this very difficult time.

"My thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and with the Thai people.

"Foreign Office officials are in close contact with the Thai authorities and have offered UK assistance in the investigation of this abhorrent act.

"British nationals in Thailand should check the Foreign Office website for the latest travel advice."

As well as the deaths, more than 120 people were injured.

In a separate attack yesterday, an explosive device was thrown at a pier in Bangkok but no-one was hurt.

Hong Kong is advising its citizens to avoid non-essential trips to Bangkok as it raised its travel alert to red, but the British Government has not taken similar action.

Travel advice issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) states: "Local police have confirmed a bomb explosion at 7pm on August 17, 2015 at the Ratchprasong intersection next to the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. There are reports of casualties.

"The British Embassy is in contact with local authorities. You should monitor news reports, follow the advice of local authorities and take extra care.."