Staff reporters
A Buddhist novice who tried to defuse three ping pong
bombs at Nongketnoi Temple was injured last week when a nearby open
flame ignited the gunpowder.
Patsapong Sukharam, 17, suffered burns to his face
and neck. He was taken to the Baan Nong Hua Rad clinic for treatment.
Patsapong told police he was sweeping the temple
grounds around 8:30 a.m. when he found the crudely made cherry bombs.
Wanting to prevent others from getting hurt, he decided to drain the
ping pong balls of their gunpowder himself.
Unfortunately, rather than call the bomb squad, he
did the work near a fire burning on the temple grounds. Wind carried a
steam of powder toward the flame and ignited it.
Police kept the other two devices as evidence. They
believe locals youths made the bombs, then changed their mind and
disposed of them at the temple.
