Thai Court Hands Death Sentences in 2015 Bangkok Shrine Bombing Case

A Thai court on Thursday, June 11, 2026, sentenced two men to death over their role in the 2015 bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine, an attack that killed 20 people and injured more than 120. The ruling concludes a long-running case tied to the deadliest bombing in Thailand’s history. The two defendants, ethnically Uighur Chinese nationals Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, were convicted of premeditated murder and attempted murder for planting the bomb on Aug. 17, 2015.

The court said the defendants committed a single act that violated multiple laws and imposed the maximum penalty. Both men have denied the charges. Officials said the defendants plan to appeal within one month.

The case has moved slowly through Thailand’s court system. Proceedings began in a military court in 2016 and were transferred to a civilian court in 2022, according to details cited in the case file.

Court process and evidence

Prosecutors assembled a large record that included about 10,000 pages of testimony and more than 400 witnesses. The lengthy process stretched for nearly a decade from the 2015 attack to the 2026 verdict.

Officials have not detailed a wider network behind the bombing in the materials cited in the case, and no group publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Retaliation theory and wider context

Security experts have speculated the bombing may have been retaliation for Thailand’s forced deportation of more than 100 Uighurs to China in the month before the attack. The case drew added attention because the shrine is in central Bangkok and is frequented by both locals and tourists.

The Erawan Shrine is a well-known religious site that attracts large crowds, including many Chinese visitors. The verdict is expected to be followed by an appeal process, with the timeline depending on court procedures.