Bomb Blasts Kill 3, Injure 12 at Two Hotels
Three people were killed and 12 injured in two bomb blasts at hotels in Cambodia’s capital.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings and the motive remained unclear. Some policemen said they were terrorist attacks; Phnom Penh’s governor described them as an extortion attempt.
The first bomb exploded at the Hong Kong Hotel, injuring five people. The second bomb went off an hour later at the Penchet Hotel about 130 feet away. That blast killed a maid and two male employees, said Samut Thoeun, the chief administrator of the Monivong district. He said seven people were injured in the blast, which he called a terrorist attack.
But Phnom Penh Gov. Chea Sophara said the blasts were part of a scheme by gangs to extort money from hotel operators.
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