Thailand’s ‘yellow shirt’ leader shot

One of Thailand’s most prominent political figures was shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt on Friday morning, raising new fears that the tensions in the country could again flare into violence.

Sondhi Limthongkul, the most prominent leader of the yellow-shirted protesters who closed down the airport last year, was shot in his car as he was going to work. A spokesman for the People’s Alliance for Democracy said that his life was not in danger although he was being treated in hospital.

His driver was critically injured in the attack, and a guard who was also travelling in the car was also shot.

Although Thailand is no stranger to political violence, assassination attempts are rare.