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AFP offer to help probe Bangkok bombing

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Bangkok bombing was aimed at innocent people but no Australians appear to be among the casualties.

Police officers work at the scene of a bomb blast, Bangkok, Thailand
The AFP have offered Thai authorities their expertise to investigate the Bangkok bombing. (AAP)

Australian Federal Police have offered Thai authorities their expertise to investigate the Bangkok bombing.

At least 21 people were killed and more than 120 wounded when a bomb ripped through a Bangkok religious shrine late on Monday, in what authorities said was the worst attack on Thai soil and targeted at foreigners.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament the "vicious attack" was clearly aimed at innocent people, but no Australians were known to have been harmed.

Thailand's ambassador Chirachai Punkrasin was in the parliamentary chamber for the brief speech.

Mr Abbott said the embassy in Bangkok was in close contact with Thai authorities to determine whether any Australians had been affected.

"So far we have no information to indicate that there are any Australians among the dead or injured," he said.

About 900,000 Australians visit Thailand every year.

"Australians should continue to go to Thailand because the objective of the sorts of people who let off bombs in crowded cities is to scare us from being ourselves and we should never be intimidated by that," Mr Abbott said.

However anyone travelling to the country should exercise caution.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also offered Labor's condolences.

"We know this is a crime of hatred, designed to provoke fear and ... we say with one voice it will not go unchallenged or unpunished and we will not change who we are because of this," he told parliament.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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