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Thai Court Sentences Two Uyghur Men to Death for 2015 Bangkok Shrine Bombing
A Bangkok court convicted two Uyghur men of premeditated murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of explosives in the August 2015 attack at the Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people and wounded more than 120 others. The four-judge panel imposed the death penalty after reviewing video footage, fingerprints, and testimony from over 400 witnesses.
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A Bangkok court sentenced two Uyghur men to death on Thursday for their role in the August 2015 bombing at the Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people and wounded more than 120 others. The Bangkok South Criminal Court convicted the defendants of premeditated murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of explosives.
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The four-judge panel ruled that the men committed a single act that violated multiple laws and therefore imposed the harshest penalty available.
Prosecutors linked the defendants to the attack through video footage, fingerprints, and other physical evidence. The case involved more than 10,000 pages of testimony and statements from over 400 witnesses. The trial began in a military court in 2016 before moving to civilian court in 2022.
Lawyers for one defendant said they will file an appeal within a month. The defendants, identified as Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, were charged with murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of explosive materials.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security experts have described it as possible retaliation for Thailand's deportation of more than 100 Uyghurs the previous month. >"The attackers were totally inhumane and extremely heinous. The Erawan shrine remains a popular site for both residents and tourists in central Bangkok." — Court statement, June 2026 (The Guardian)
