A man thought to be Iranian blew his own leg off with a grenade on Tuesday after being refused a cab ride in Bangkok, police and a government spokeswoman said.
The man, identified as Saeib Morabi, allegedly tried to get in a taxi in the city center Tuesday but was refused a ride by the driver, prompting him to toss a grenade in the cab. The resulting explosion injured the driver and two nearby pedestrians, said Major General Vichai Sangkhapai, deputy chief of Bangkok Police.
The suspect then fled the scene but was tracked down by police. He threw another grenade when they tried to arrest him, but it blew up next to him, severing his own leg, Vichai said.
A Pattaya hotel bill in the man's wallet bore the name Saeib Morabi. The hotel said he had registered there under an Iranian identity.
Shortly before, there had been an explosion in a house the man was renting in the Ekamai area of central Bangkok, government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng told reporters.