A Thai court has sentenced two men to death over the 2015 bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine, which killed 20 people and injured more than 100 others in one of the country’s deadliest attacks.
The Bangkok South Criminal Court ruled on Thursday that the two ethnic Uighur defendants were guilty of premeditated murder, attempted murder, and possession of explosive materials in connection with the August 17, 2015 attack in the heart of Bangkok’s commercial district.
The court described the bombing as a single act that violated multiple laws and said the severity of the crime justified the maximum penalty available under Thai law.
The explosion tore through a crowded area where worshippers and tourists had gathered, leaving widespread destruction, including shattered debris, damaged motorbikes, and a heavily affected shrine site. Victims included both local residents and foreign nationals.
The defendants, identified as Chinese nationals Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, were linked to the attack through a combination of video evidence, fingerprints, and other investigative materials presented in court. Both men have consistently denied involvement.
Following the verdict, legal representatives confirmed plans to appeal the ruling, while one of the defendants rejected the judgment, insisting he was not responsible for the bombing.
The case took more than a decade to conclude, involving extensive evidence, thousands of pages of testimony, and hundreds of witnesses. It also spanned a transition from military to civilian judicial proceedings in Thailand.
Authorities have not fully established the wider network behind the attack, and no group has claimed responsibility. However, analysts have previously suggested possible links to tensions surrounding the deportation of Uighur detainees from Thailand shortly before the bombing.
The Erawan Shrine remains one of Bangkok’s most prominent religious and tourist landmarks, attracting visitors from around the world.
