ASTV bombarded with grenades, gunfire

The assailants arriving on a long-tail boat also fired assault rifles at the back of the head office building for about five minutes before speeding off to the direction the Pin Klao bridge.

The attack came at about 1:50 am, police and astv officials said.

ASTV security officials apparently anticipated the attempts to destroy the dishes and used a net to shield bombs. The net caused the grenades to explode at the level of the fourth floor.

The explosions of the two grenades shattered the glass windows on the fourth floor.

The bullets and explosions also damaged the window glasses from the first to the third floors as well.

During the attack, a new announcer, Natthawut Mitmark, ducked for cover and his hands were cut by broken glasses.

Worarat Phusathong, a reporter, said he was leaving the office when he heard two explosions.

He ran outside and heard gunshots at the back of the building for about five to ten minutes.

The bullets ripped through the glass windows of some studios, he said.

When police arrived at the scene, they arrested Pornchai Sanguanpoj, 41, an astv security official, and took him to be questioned at the Chana Songkram police station.

Police found 6 rounds of 11-mm caliber pistol on him. Pornchai said he was shooting back at the assailants when police arrived at the scene so he threw his gun into the river.

Early Monday, assailants also fired two grenades at the astv head office but the bombs hit the net and fell into the river.

Meanwhile, s series of gunshots were heard near Don Muean Airport where protesters led by The People's Alliance for Democracy were occupying.

Over ten gunshots were heard at about 4:50 am in an area in front of the airport.

PAD guards said they saw a man in a black pick-up truck firing into the air.

Then at 6:30 am, dozens of gunshots were heard again, sending PAD guards to run around to check the incident.