Pope Francis has expressed his deep sadness at the recent Bangkok bombings and his “heartfelt solidarity” with all affected.
At least 22 people were killed and 123 injured when a bomb exploded in the Erawan Hindu shrine in Thailand’s capital on Monday. In a separate attack on Tuesday, a bomb went off at the city’s Sathorn Pier. It appears that the bomb had been thrown towards the busy platform leading to the pier, but it bounced off a post and detonated harmlessly in the canal.
In a letter of condolence, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin wrote that the Pope was “deeply saddened” to hear of the attacks and would be praying for country. The letter, sent on Wednesday to the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, expressed the Pontiff’s “heartfelt solidarity” with the king and all those affected.
It continued, “Mindful of the security and emergency personnel who are seeking the perpetrators of these crimes, while also assisting the injured, their families and those of the deceased, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers and invokes the divine blessings of peace and healing upon the Kingdom.”
CCTV footage from the shrine emerged on Wednesday showing a man in a yellow shirt leaving a backpack at the place where the bomb went off minutes later.
Loading ...
