Two police wounded in grenade blast near Democrat Party headquarters

BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) -- Two police officers were wounded Tuesday when a grenade exploded near the headquarters of Thailand's ruling Democrat Party, while a motorcade of anti-government protesters passed by the building on motorcycles and in cars and pickups, police said.

The incident took place despite heavy security, with a combined force of 1,000 police and military deployed around the ruling party headquarters not far from Samsen Railway Station.

Party leader Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not attend the party's meeting today due to security concerns.

Police said the incident occurred at about 3.30pm when an unidentified person fired an M79 grenade, believed to be from the expressway above Rama VI Road.

The grenade fell behind the Democrat Party headquarters and landed on a parking lot, wounding two police officers.

Police said the wounded policemen were later sent to a nearby private hospital for treatment and were now in stable condition.

The incident took place just after members of the ruling Democrat Party, Thailand’s oldest political party, celebrated the party's 64th anniversary Tuesday, left party headquarters after attending a Buddhist religious ceremony and a brief meeting there.

Police said they were searching for the assailant. (TNA)