Bangkok Shrine Attacker is Killed

[DREW]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4827660.stm

Bangkok shrine attacker is killed

The shrine was covered with a sheet after the attack
A Muslim man has been beaten to death in Thailand after attacking a Hindu shrine in the capital, Bangkok.
The man - who was reported to suffer from mental health problems - was set upon after smashing a statue of the Hindu deity Brahma.

Two men, reportedly cleaners at the shrine, have been charged with murder.

The Erawan shrine, built 50 years ago, is a popular site with tourists and devotees, who pay musicians and dancers to celebrate wishes granted there.

Police said that Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, broke into the shrine, which houses a four-faced statue of Brahma, early on Tuesday morning.

He used a hammer to destroy the deity, before being attacked by several men.

"After a scream from a street vendor shouting 'our father was destroyed', I saw three or four men arresting that man and beating him up," taxi driver Somyos Srikamsuk told Channel 3 television.

"He was unconscious, but still alive when police got there."

Sadness

Pakdeepol's father told Reuters news agency that his son had been in and out of mental hospitals for the past decade. The family said they had no idea what made him do it.

The shrine was built in 1956 to ward off bad luck from the nearby Erawan hotel, where the foundation stone had been laid on an inauspicious day.

Thousands of Thais visit the shrine every day and return with gifts when they believe their wishes have been granted. Street vendors line the roads selling garlands and wooden elephants to be presented as offerings.

After the attack on Tuesday it was hidden, covered by a white sheet.

Brahma is worshipped by Hindus as the creator. People pray to him for everything from a new child to a lottery ticket.

Local people say the incident is unlikely to provoke revenge attacks, as there are few incidences of religious intolerance in Bangkok, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in the Thai capital.

But there was much sadness among the devotees clustered outside the locked gates to the holy site, who could not understand why the attack happened.

[Sirgezza]

Sounds like role reversal.

Would the world be a better place without any religion?

[steve@thaib]

This is a very, very important shrine to the Thais. I'm not surprised at their reaction. Also, it's actually a Hindu shrine so is it about religion entirely? They just believe it to be lucky.

My girls was pretty upset when she saw that story today.

[LivinLOS]

Just goes to show.. Dont fcuk with Brahma !!

Do you reckon it brings bad Karma (groan)..

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by gez

Sounds like role reversal.

Would the world be a better place without any religion?

Bali is a real mixed up place with Hindu muslim and christians all traditionally hacking each other up every few years..

My bro who kinda lives between here and Bali was saying how there is this one square with big temple / church / mosque / places of worship each around the square.. Whenever the trouble starts brewing the nutters all go to this place to ruck !!

Its got a name (cant remember now) which was something like tolerance square !! Thats the main battleground !!

More wars and death commited in the name of god(s) than any other thing I reckon.