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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Rose Troup Buchanan

Uber offers free taxi service to give blood following Bangkok bomb

Doctors rush a victim injured in the Bangkok bomb blast into hospital (Reuters)

An international taxi app firm has offered customers in Bangkok free rides to and from hospital to donate blood in the wake of the “worst” attack in the capital ever.

Uber Bangkok is offering anyone who wishes to donate blood a free ride to and from the Thai Red Cross Society until 23 August.

Thailand has been shocked by a recent bomb attack on the Hindu Erawan Shrine in Bangkok at around 7pm on Monday evening that has claimed the lives of 22 people so far. More than 123 are in hospital.

“Uber Bangkok is deeply saddened by the horrific events at Ratchaprasong this evening. To assist those injured, we would like to facilitate the process of blood donation for anyone in Bangkok wishing to do so,” a statement on the international company’s website read on Monday.

The Thai Red Cross has treated 27 people, including three children, at the Kinf Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Tuesday. Although the National Blood Centre has provided enough blood products for patients so far, donors have been alerted should there be an urgent need, a statement from the organisation said.

READ MORE: 8 things we know so far
CCTV released show suspect dumping rucksack near bombsite

The attack has seemingly taken Thai authorities by surprise with the government scrabbling to mobilise thousands of troops, as the PM Prayuth Chan-ocha reassured citizens that all efforts were being made to trace the culprits.

Bangkok Bombing

CCTV images leaked online earlier on Tuesday purported to show a male individual, wearing a yellow t-shirt, dropping a bag by the shrine before disappearing into the crowd. The unidentified man has subsequently been named as the bomber by police.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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