Thailand blasts hit tourist towns

A string of blasts has hit resort towns in Thailand, and other locations, hours after twin bombs killed one person in the seaside town of Hua Hin, near Bangkok.

Four bombs exploded in the resort town of Hua Hin, while several blasts hit the island of Phuket, a top tourist destination, all within a 24-hour period on Thursday and Friday.

No group has said it carried out the attacks, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist insurgents.

The timing is sensitive, as Friday is a holiday marking the queen's birthday.

This comes just days before the one-year anniversary of a bomb blast at the Erawan shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people.

Last week, Thais voted in a referendum which approved a new constitution that will strengthen the military's influence in politics for many years.

Foreign embassies have advised tourists to be vigilant. 

The UK Foreign Office has advised people in tourist areas in Thailand to "exercise extreme caution, avoid public places and follow the advice of local authorities".

SOURCE: BBC News