10 bodies found in Bangkok shopping centre

BANGKOK - Firefighters sifting through the ruins of the Central World shopping centre in Bangkok found nine bodies in the basement Friday and police discovered one other, Thai news reports said.

The centre was set ablaze in the wake of an army attack Wednesday on anti-government protesters camped in the central Ratchaprasong commercial district.

Spring TV News quoted firefighters as saying they discovered nine bodies during an inspection of the remains of the giant shopping complex.

The firefighters said they did not know the cause of death of those found and police and soldiers refused to allow reporters into the area.

Earlier Friday the body of a man was found on the fourth floor of the mall, according to police, after they entered the building in the morning to look for evidence of arson.

The unidentified man was believed to be 25 to 30 years old, police said.

Around 34 other buildings were torched in the aftermath of the army attack at Ratchaprasong, according to government figures.