Bystanders curse actor for re-enacting Bangkok blast in TV channel gaffe

A re-enactment of the deadly Bangkok blast by Thailand's Nation TV channel has caused an uproar for its insensitivity.

An actor clad in a yellow shirt and wig looking suspiciously similar to the bomb suspect was spotted by Twitter user @BoyOfHeaven near the Erawan shrine. Photos were then posted on his Twitter account, garnering over 11,000 retweets.

According to Channel NewsAsia, people at the shrine were cursing at the actor. He was later asked to leave by the police.

"I don't know which television programme is responsible for this inappropriate act where they dressed a guy like the bomb suspect and brought him into the shrine," Twitter user @BoyOfHeaven said.

Social media users slammed Nation TV for its bad taste and pressed for the resignation of parties involved in the gaffe.

The president of Nation Broadcasting Corporation later issued an apology.

"On behalf of Nation TV, I'd like to express my sincere apologies and remorse for our attempt to reenact the scene without thinking about the impact it might have on the feelings of the public, and for a lack of respect for the deceased," Adisak Limprungpatanakij said.

The search for the bomb suspect has led to cases of quick finger-pointing. On Wednesday, an Australian model-actor had to turn himself in to the police after he was mistaken as the man behind the deadly bombing in Bangkok.

Then, Thai journalist Prasitchai Kumbang had tweeted Burns' photo with security camera footage of the bombing suspect, drawing similarities from both photos.

The bombing at the popular Erawan shrine has claimed 20 lives, in what has been described as the 'worst ever attack' on the kingdom by Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha.

grongloh@sph.com.sg