Asia

Bangkok explosion wounds nine

It is unclear what has caused a blast at a bus stop in downtown Bangkok and if it was related to a closely watched special election.

BANGKOK // An explosion has wounded nine people in central Bangkok, emergency officials said, but it was unclear what caused the blast and if it was related to a closely watched special election in the Thai capital. The explosion occurred at a bus stop in downtown Bangkok near a busy intersection at the heart of the commercial district, the same area occupied by thousands of "red shirt" anti-government protesters for several weeks until an army crackdown on May 19.

The blast took place opposite Central World, a shopping area that was set on fire by protesters in May. It coincided with a Bangkok by-election that is being seen as a referendum on Thailand's recent political unrest. * Reuters

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How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix

1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull

5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas

6 Romain Grosjean, Haas

7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault

*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull

9 Carlos Sainz, Renault

10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren

12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren

13 Sergio Perez, Force India

14 Lance Stroll, Williams

15 Esteban Ocon, Force India

16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso

17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber

18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber

19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams

20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso

* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice

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