2010 Thai Division 1 League, League Expansion
It was announced at the end of the season that the TPL would increase the number of teams for the start of the 2011 Thai Premier League season. Therefore, at the end of season the three teams in the Thai Premier League that finished the season in the bottom three places (14th, 15th and 16th) would face the fourth, fifth and sixth teams from Division One in a promotion/relegation series.


2010 Thai Division 1 League, League Expansion
The six teams will be divided into two groups of three. They will meet each other in their group on a home-and-away basis with the winner of each group earning spots in the top flight next season.


2010 Thai Division 1 League, League Expansion
It was also announced somewhat belatedly that the teams that finished in the bottom four places, whom would normally be relegated would play in an end of season Promotion/Relegation series against the teams coming 3rd and 4th in the 2010 Regional League Division 2 championship stage. Games would be played on a home and away basis to decide whom would play in the 2011 Thai Division 1 League.


2010 Thai Division 1 League, Results
Winners over two legs progress to the 2011 Division One league season, losers go to the Regional League


2010 Thai FA Cup
The Thai FA Cup 2010 (Thai: มูลนิธิไทยคม เอฟเอคัพ) is the 15th season of Thailand knockout football competition. The tournament is organized by the Football Association of Thailand.


2010 Thai FA Cup
The cup winner were guaranteed a place in the 2011 AFC Cup.


2010 Thai FA Cup Final
The 2010 Thai FA Cup Final was the 15th final of the Thailand's domestic football cup competition, the FA Cup. The final was played at Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on 28 November 2010. The match was contested by Muangthong United, who beat Rajnavy Rayong 1–0 in their semi-final, and Chonburi who beat Royal Thai Army 2–0 in the match. After Therdsak Chaiman opened the scoring in 44th minute, Datsakorn Thonglao equalised in the 59th minute before the draw and Chonburi beat Muangthong United at the extra time 2–1 by Pipob On-Mo.


2010 Thai FA Cup Final, Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away; TPL: Clubs from Thai Premier League; D1: Clubs from Thai Division 1 League; D2: Clubs from Regional League Division 2).


2010 Thai League Cup
The 2010 Thai League Cup kicked off on 4 August 2010 with the Bangkok & field regional qualifiers. The Thai League Cup was readmitted back into Thai football after a 10-year absence. This edition was sponsored by Toyota thus naming it Toyota League Cup. The prize money for this prestigious award is said to be around 5 million baht and the runners-up will be netting 1 million baht.


2010 Thai League Cup
The prize money was not the only benefit of this cup, the team winning the fair play spot wins a Hilux Vigo. The MVP of the competition got a Toyota Camry Hybrid Car. The winner of the cup earned the right to participate on a cup competition in Japan.


2010 Thai League Cup
This was the first edition of the competition and the qualifying round was played in regions featuring clubs from the Regional League Division 2.


2010 Thai Port F.C. season
The 2010 season was Thai Port's 14th season in the top division of Thai football. This article shows statistics of the club's players in the season, and also lists all matches that the club played in the season.


2010 Thai Premier League
The 2010 Thai Premier League was the 14th season of the Thai Premier League since its establishment in 1996. A total of 16 teams competed in the league, with Muangthong United as the defending champions.


2010 Thai Premier League, League Expansion
It was announced at the end of the season that the TPL would increase the number of teams for the start of the 2011 Thai Premier League season. Therefore, at the end of season the three teams in the Thai Premier League that finished the season in the bottom three places (14th, 15th and 16th) would face the fourth, fifth and sixth teams from Division One in a promotion/relegation series.


2010 Thai Premier League, League Expansion
The six teams will be divided into two groups of three. They will meet each other in their group on a home-and-away basis with the winner of each group earning spots in the top flight next season.


2010 Thai Premier League, Teams
Sriracha, Chula United and Nakhon Pathom were relegated to the 2010 Thai Division 1 League after finishing the 2009 season in the bottom three places.


2010 Thai Premier League, Teams
The three relegated teams were replaced by 2009 Thai Division 1 League champions Police United, runners-up Royal Thai Army and third place Sisaket.


2010 Thai Premier League, Teams
TTM Samut Sakhon and PEA were renamed to TTM Phichit and Buriram PEA, they moved location to Phichit and Buriram. PEA renamed after the club takeover by Newin Chidchob. TOT were renamed too, they were renamed to TOT-CAT.


2010 Thai Premier League, Teams, Stadium and locations
1 Second half of season played at Bangkok University Stadium former home in Rangsit2 Moved from Nong Chok Stadium during renovation3 Ground share with Muangthong United during TOT Stadium Chaeng Watthana renovation


2010 Thai Premier League, League table, Playoffs, Group A
1 Nakhon Pathom were suspended for two years following the final playoff game, all results stood.


2010 Thai Premier League, Awards, Annual awards, TPL Young Player of the Year
The Young Player of the Year was awarded to Phuritad Jarikanon.


2010 Thai Premier League, Awards, Annual awards, TPL Head Coach of the Year
The Head Coach of the Year was awarded to René Desaeyere.


2010 Thai military crackdown
On 10 April and 13–19 May 2010, the Thai military cracked down on the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protests in central Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The crackdown was the culmination of months of protests that called for the Democrat Party-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold elections. The crackdowns occurred in the vicinity of protest sites near Phan Fa Lilat Bridge and Ratchaprasong intersection. More than 85 were killed, including more than 80 civilians according to the Erawan EMS Center. Two foreigners and two paramedics were killed.


2010 Thai military crackdown
More than 2,000 were injured, an undisclosed number of arrests occurred, and 51 protesters remained missing as of 8 June. The Thai media dubbed the crackdowns "Cruel April" (Thai: เมษาโหด, RTGS: mesa hot) and "Savage May" (Thai: พฤษภาอำมหิต, RTGS: phritpha ammahit). After the protest, its leaders surrendered at the conclusion of the 19 May crackdown, followed by dozens of arson attacks nationwide, including at CentralWorld.


2010 Thai military crackdown
On 10 April, troops executed an unsuccessful crackdown on protesters at Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Road, resulting in 25 deaths (including a Japanese journalist, five soldiers, and over 800 injuries. Troops fired on protesters near Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge during the afternoon. Later that evening, automatic gunfire, explosives, and tear gas were used in clashes on Khao San Road and Khok Wua Intersection. The Erawan Center noted that among the dead were soldiers disguised as protesters. The military claimed that soldiers only used live rounds to defend themselves, and claimed that the military deaths were due to terrorists.


2010 Thai military crackdown
Ratchaprasong was surrounded with armoured vehicles and snipers in the days leading to 13 May. On the evening of 13 May, Khattiya Sawasdiphol ("Seh Daeng"), a popular security adviser to the protesters, was shot in the head by a sniper's bullet while he was giving an interview to The New York Times. The state of emergency, already in place in Bangkok, was expanded to 17 provinces and the military commended an extended crackdown, leading to an additional 41 civilian deaths (including an Italian photographer) and more than 250 injuries by 8:30 pm on 18 May.


2010 Thai military crackdown
One military death occurred due to friendly fire. The military claimed that all civilians killed were either armed terrorists or civilians shot by terrorists, and noted that some civilians were shot by terrorists disguised in army uniforms. The military declared the area a "live fire zone," and medics were banned from entering. On 16 May, UDD leaders said they were ready for talks as long as the military pulled back, but the government demanded the protesters' unconditional dispersal. The government rejected a Senate call for a ceasefire and Senate-mediated negotiations.


2010 Thai military crackdown
On 17 May, Amnesty International called for the military to stop using live ammunition. Armored vehicles led the final assault into Ratchaprasong in the early morning of 19 May, killing at least five. Soldiers were reported to have fired on medical staff who went to the aid of shooting victims. By 1:30 pm, UDD leaders surrendered to police and told protesters to give themselves up. Dozens of arson attacks soon broke out nationwide. A curfew was declared and troops were authorized to shoot on sight anybody inciting unrest.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Background
In Thailand, a series of political protests against the Democrat Party-led government occurred in March to May 2010 as a result of an ongoing political crisis. Anger against Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government was high throughout 2009, due to the controversial legal and military maneuvering that led to the formation of the government. In February 2010, Abhisit tightened security in anticipation of a controversial Supreme Court ruling on former President Takshin Shinawatra.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Background
When the 26 February ruling confirmed the bribery accusations, protests were limited, but the UDD announced it would organize a 14 March protest and call for new elections. Abhisit further tightened security in anticipation of the protest. The media was censored, and radio stations and television stations sympathetic to the protesters were shut down.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
On Thursday, 13 May, Thai Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng ('Commander Red'), a self-described key military adviser to the red-shirts who was suspended from duty in the Thai army, was shot by an unknown sniper around 7 p.m. local time while being interviewed by The New York Times. A backer and part of the protesters' more radical wing, he had accused Red Shirt leaders of not being hardline enough.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
On Friday, 14 May, Thai police army units moved in to surround and cut off the protesters' main camp, meeting heavy resistance from the Red Shirts resulting in the deaths of two people with dozens more injured. One of the Red Shirt leaders, Nattawut Saikuar, accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of starting a civil war. This came as there were reports of a policeman opening fire on soldiers near a police station in Bangkok, showing that there may be divisions within the security services themselves. Both the British and US embassies in Bangkok confirmed they were to close for security reasons.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
Just before 3:00 pm GMT on 14 May, Sky News reported that the death-toll from the latest fighting had risen to five, with 46 others wounded. People in Bangkok claimed that the area has descended into a war zone as the two sides battled for control. During the clashes, France 24 journalist Nelson Rand was "gravely wounded" by bullets from a Thai Army assault rifle, although who actually used the weapon is still unknown. On Friday night, several grenade explosions were heard from a nearby shopping centre and municipal railway station in the up-scale shopping area. As of 6:00 pm 14 May, the BBC reported that seven people had died and over 100 were wounded in the latest violence in Bangkok, as Canada announced the temporary closure of its embassy.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
According to The Telegraph, as of 9:40 pm GMT 14 May, at least 16 people had been killed, none of whom were members of the security services. There were several incidents of police officers joining with the Red Shirts and exchanging fire with the Thai Army, prompting fears that a civil war was coming. The number of injured was thought to be 157, with that number predicted to rise significantly as fighting continued.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
By 2:20 am GMT on 15 May, the death toll reached 16, with more than 157 injured. Street battles continued, with no end in sight. Total casualties since 12 May amount to 24 killed, with 187 injured on the night of 14/15 May alone. One of the dead was a sergeant of the Royal Thai Air Force, who was killed by friendly fire.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
Protest leaders once again warned of civil war if the army attempted to storm their camp. Several areas of the city near the protesters were designated as "live fire zones" by the military, and protesters entering these zones were to be shot on sight. Due to food and water shortages as a result of the army blockade, it was estimated the protesters would only be able to hold out for a few more days, and after that have to start plundering the available local shops.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
On 16 May, the death-toll rose to 33, with the number of wounded rising to 230. Reporters in the vicinity of the violence had to cancel live broadcasts due to the threat of sniper attacks from military forces in the area. The government urged the very young and very old to leave the camp by Monday afternoon, prompting fears of an army crackdown. The redshirt leaders started telling the public that the foreign media, such as CNN, BBC, Reuters, and many others, cannot be trusted as they are biased, prompting a backlash of their international followers. On 17 May Thai Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who was shot in the head by a sniper on 13 May, died.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
On 17 May, Thai military helicopters dropped leaflets on the Red Shirt's main encampment, urging them to leave. The Red Shirts responded by firing homemade rockets at the helicopters. The encampment was completely surrounded, and the Thai government gave Red Shirts a deadline of 3:00 PM local time to withdraw. Clashes continued, with Thai troops firing directly towards or at any movement around the protest perimeter with live ammunition, and protesters also using potentially lethal tactics, according to a Canadian journalist. Red Shirts shot fireworks at the Army, and utilized a broom handle to rapidly fire firecrackers. At least two Red Shirt protesters were shot by Thai Army snipers. According to Thai medical officials, the casualty toll stood at 35 dead, and 242 wounded. By the end of the day, the casualty toll had risen to 37 dead and 266 wounded.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline
Sporadic clashes continued on 18 May, but these skirmishes were less intense than some previous confrontations had been. The death toll rose to 39 as the day progressed, and it is widely believed that a military crackdown is imminent as troops and APC's gathered around the protest site urging residents and protestors to leave, declaring that a military operation is soon to commence. The Army moved in soon afterward, backed by armoured personnel carriers (APC) and smashed through the protestors main barricades. Two Red Shirts were shot and wounded during the opening stages of this operation as other Red Shirts set alight the kerosene soaked barricades to deter advancing soldiers and obscure their view.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline, 19 May assault
On 19 May, the army launched an all-out assault using APCs and breached Red Shirt barricades, leaving at least five dead, including Italian freelance photojournalist Fabio Polenghi. Two soldiers were seriously wounded in a grenade attack possibly from an M79. The protest leaders surrendered to police in an attempt to avoid further bloodshed. The majority of protesters booed at the protest leaders as they declared an end to the protests and did not follow them to surrender to the authorities. Fighting between Red Shirt protesters and the army continued in many parts of the city.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Timeline, 19 May assault
Red Shirt protesters set fire to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, banks, at least two shopping centres (including Central World at the Red Shirts main protest site), a TV station, and barricades built to keep out the army. The total death toll since 14 May is believed to stand at 52. There were reports of clashes in Thailand's northern provinces after the surrender was announced, resulting in a town hall being burned by Red Shirts in Udon Thani.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Death of Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan
Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan (จ่าอากาศเอกพงศ์ชลิต พิทยานนทกาญจน์), aged 51, of the Royal Thai Air Force's Ground Security Force Corps was shot and killed by friendly fire at an army checkpoint at 1:20 AM of 17 May. Phongchalit and a Pilot Officer Aphichat Songyong (เรืออากาศตรีอภิชาติ ซ้งย้ง), aged 26, were wearing plainclothes and driving an unmarked Vigo pickup truck to the Sala Daeng Intersection checkpoint at high speed. Army troops at the checkpoint reported being fired upon by the people in the truck. The troops manning the checkpoint fired on the truck causing it to lose control and hit police vehicles parked nearby.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Death of Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan
The two men were taken to nearby Bangkok Christian Hospital, but Phongchalit was dead on arrival. Aphichat was injured, and later picked up from the hospital by commanders of the RTAF Ground Security Force Corps. The commanders had no comments about the circumstances of Sergeant Phongchalit's death. Phongchalit was one of the two troops killed in the extended 13–19 May military crackdown.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Death of Fabio Polenghi
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi was killed by a grenade launched from a terrorist M79 grenade launcher and died side-by-side with a soldier. However, numerous reports including one by the International Federation of Journalists noted that Polenghi was shot. Autopsy results showed that Polenghi died from a high-velocity bullet that entered the heart, and caused damage to his lungs and liver. A reporter from Der Spiegel who was with Polenghi noted that he was photographing from the protesters' side and was running from advancing soldiers. The Italian Embassy announced it was pursuing its own investigation.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Death of Fabio Polenghi
In May 2013, the results of a lengthy investigation in Thailand revealed that Fabio Polenghi, 48 years old at the time of his death, was felled by a 5.56 mm (M16) bullet from a soldier's weapon and was running away at the moment he was killed. Testimony from journalists Michel Maas, Manit Kamnan and Bradley Cox were included in the proceedings. Polenghi's work had appeared in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire, and Elle.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Aftermath
In the hours after military operations had wrapped up, a curfew was imposed on Bangkok for the first time since 1992, as well as on 23 provinces. Unrest spread to other cities across the country as Red Shirt sympathizers vandalized government facilities in Udon Thani and burned down the town hall, with the provincial governor requesting military intervention to stop the unrest. Early estimates into the economic impact of the fighting by the Thai finance ministry placed the total cost of the fighting at US$1.5 billion.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Aftermath
Foot and motor vehicle patrols conducted by the Thai military were confronted by Red Shirt holdouts with small arms fire in an attempt to restrict the military's movement through territory previously held by the protesters. After the surrender of the protest leaders, dozens of arson attacks occurred throughout the nation, including Central World shopping center and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.


2010 Thai military crackdown, Aftermath
On 17 September 2012, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) released its final report on the April-May 2010 political violence. According to US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, "...the TRCT's final report seems to give a balanced treatment to both sides involved in the political violence two years ago—alleging that both the UDD and government security forces, including the military, were responsible for escalating the situation."


2010 Thai political protests
The 2010 Thai political protests were a series of political protests that were organised by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) (also known as "Red Shirts") in Bangkok, Thailand from 12 March–19 May 2010 against the Democrat Party-led government. The UDD called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold elections earlier than the end of term elections scheduled in 2012. The UDD demanded that the government stand down, but negotiations to set an election date failed. The protests escalated into prolonged violent confrontations between the protesters and the military, and attempts to negotiate a ceasefire failed. More than 80 civilians and six soldiers were killed, and more than 2,100 injured by the time the military violently put down the protest on 19 May.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
Popular opposition to Abhisit Vejjajiva's government rose throughout 2009, due to the controversial 2008 "judicial coup" that banned the Palang Prachachon Party and "silent coup" that allowed the Democrats to form a coalition government. In February 2010, Abhisit tightened security in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling to seize former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's bank accounts, frozen since the 2006 military coup. The UDD did not protest, but announced protests on 14 March in Bangkok to call for new elections. Abhisit further tightened security. Censorship was heightened, and radio, TV stations and websites sympathetic to the UDD were closed.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
Estimates of the number of protesters on 14 March ranged from 50,000 (by the government) to 300,000 (by the UDD). At the beginning, protests were mostly peaceful, and initially centred at Phan Fa Lilat Bridge. Many protesters came from outside Bangkok, including from numerous provinces in the North and Northeast. After initial UDD unilateral demands for an early election were unsuccessful, dozens of M79 grenade attacks occurred far from Phan Fa, but there were no injuries and no arrests. In April, protesters shifted to Ratchaprasong intersection.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
A state of emergency was declared in Bangkok on 8 April, banning political assemblies of more than five persons. On 10 April, troops unsuccessfully cracked down at Phan Fa, resulting in 24 deaths, including a Japanese journalist and five soldiers, and more than 800 injuries. The Thai media called the crackdown "Cruel April" (Thai: เมษาโหด). Further negotiations failed to set an election date. On 22 April, grenade attacks suspected to have been launched from Chulalongkorn Hospital killed one and wounded 86.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
UDD members invaded Chulalongkorn Hospital in an unsuccessful search for the attackers, drawing widespread condemnation from the Thai press, as the protests started to become substantially more siege-like, with barricades and armed guards creating a UDD fortress in the Ratchaprasong vicinity. Forensics expert Pornthip Rojanasunand later indicated that the hospital might or might not have been the origin of the grenade attacks. No arrests were made for either the grenade attack or the invasion of  hospital. A UDD proposal for elections in three months was rejected by Abhisit.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
On 28 April, the military and protesters clashed in northern Bangkok, wounding at least 16 protesters and killing one soldier. The UDD moved out of Phan Fa and consolidated at Ratchaprasong. On 3 May, Abhisit announced a reconciliation road map and elections on 14 November. The roadmap was tentatively accepted by the UDD, but after they included additional conditions, the government cancelled negotiations.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
By mid-May, the Ratchaprasong protest site camp was surrounded by armoured vehicles and snipers were positioned in case they were needed. On the evening of 13 May, General Khattiya Sawasdiphol ("Seh Daeng"), security advisor to the protesters and leader of the armed "Ronin" guards known as the black shirts, was shot in the head by a sniper's bullet while he was giving an interview to press. It is unclear who fired the shot; speculation was it was ordered either by the army, by Thaksin to keep him quiet, or was simply a stray bullet.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
Thereafter, a state of emergency was expanded to 17 provinces and the military cracked down, dubbed by the Thai media as "savage May" (Thai: พฤษภาอำมหิต). An additional 41 civilians were killed (including one Italian journalist) and more than 250 were injured by 20:30, including soldiers. One military death was attributed to friendly fire. The government claimed that the civilians killed were either armed terrorists or were shot by terrorists, and insisted that some civilians were shot by terrorists disguised in army uniforms.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
The military declared the area a "free-fire zone", in which anybody, be they protester, resident, tourist or journalist would be shot on sight, with medics banned from entering. On 14 May, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged protesters and the government to reopen talks. On 16 May, UDD leaders said again they were ready for talks as long as the military pulled back, but the government demanded the unconditional dispersal of the protesters. A state of emergency was declared in five northeastern provinces on 16 May. The government rejected a Senate call for a ceasefire and Senate-mediated negotiations.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
On 17 May, Amnesty International called for the military to stop using live ammunition. Armored vehicles led the final assault into Ratchaprasong in the early morning of 19 May, killing at least five, including an Italian journalist. Soldiers were reported to have fired on medical staff who went to the aid of the shooting victims. By 13:30, UDD leaders surrendered to police and told protesters to give themselves up. Dozens of arson attacks soon broke out nationwide on Red Shirt targets including the CentralWorld building, various banks and civic buildings and government buildings.


2010 Thai political protests, Overview
People arrested and charged for arson included a number of Red Shirt supporters. A curfew was declared and troops were authorised to shoot on sight anybody inciting unrest. An undisclosed number of arrests and detentions occurred. Fifty-one protesters remained missing as of 8 June. The government claimed the protests cost 150 billion baht (approximately US$5 billion) to organise.


2010 Thai political protests, Background
In 2009, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva faced rising public discontent with his government and near-constant rumours of a military coup. King Bhumibol Adulyadej entered the hospital in September, silencing a unifying force for the country. In December 2009, pro-Abhisit academic Chirmsak Pinthong wrote an influential article in Naew Nah newspaper where he said that the nation was already in a state of civil war, although the slaughter had yet to begin. Abhisit enacted numerous security measures throughout February and March 2010 to suppress the Red Shirt protests.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
In February 2010, Abhisit established 38 security centres in the north and northeast to crack down on anti-government and anti-coup protesters. Five thousand troops (54 companies) were deployed at 200 checkpoints to prevent protesters from entering Bangkok. In total, about 20,000 security personnel were deployed. Abhisit also escalated efforts to monitor community radio stations, which were often used by rural residents to voice discontent and by activists to organise protests.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
On 7 February 2010, Abhisit's spokesperson, Thepthai Senapong, compared Red Shirts to dogs and vowed to use the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to crack down on Red Shirt community radio stations. He noted that if using the NTC to enforce the media crackdown was illegal, the government would try to pass a special law that would make such a crackdown legal. The NTC acting secretary-general was a member of the government-appointed Situation Monitoring Committee in the run up to Thaksin's February court verdict.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
The government claimed to foreign diplomats that the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) would "spark violence" and "intensify its agitation and step up protests in Bangkok and around the country in order to disrupt the work of the government and the judiciary" in the period leading up to 26 February. On that date, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions was scheduled to deliver its verdict on whether to seize former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 76 billion baht (US$2.36 billion) in assets that the military junta had frozen years earlier. Abhisit's father, a director of CP Foods, announced that he was spending 300,000 baht (US$9,300) a month to provide supplementary security for the premier.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
At noon of 1 February, bags of human excrement and fermented fish, were thrown at Abhisit's house. Abhisit linked the incident to Thaksin's assets seizure trial. The Deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, (in charge of security), blamed the UDD for the incident. The perpetrator was arrested; he confessed and claimed that he threw the bags because he was fed up with police indifference to his complaints of people smoking cigarettes near his house.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
On the evening of 15 February, police and soldiers established scores of checkpoints and organised special patrols in inner Bangkok as reports from government security agencies continued to play up fears of anti-government rallies. Abhisit's government expected major UDD-led unrest immediately following the announcement of the Supreme Court's 26 February verdict. However, the UDD said they did not protest against the verdict. Instead they announced that they would hold a one million person protest in Bangkok on 14 March to call for elections.


2010 Thai political protests, Background, Thaksin asset seizure court case
Rumours and suspicions that the protest was financed by Thaksin, as he had been found guilty, were widespread both in the media and among the population. The protesters arrived in Bangkok in smaller numbers than announced, wearing Thaksin face designs on their red tee shirts, flags, and banners. Estimates of the overall cost of the protest, given the number of protesters and the estimated sum that Thaksin had dedicated to it, led observers to guess that it could not last longer than two months. Although the number of protesters decreased from around 150,000 on the first weekend to no more than 5,000 on 19 May at the Ratchaprasong intersection, the two month estimates of duration of the protest proved to be accurate.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
Days prior to the planned protest on 14 March, checkpoints were set up to inspect caravans of protesters journeying to Bangkok. Police were given orders to detain any protester with weapons. Suthep Thaugsuban warned members of Cabinet that they and their families might become targets of UDD attacks. He denied the existence of a so-called blacklist "with 212 names of Thaksin's close relatives and associates, UDD leaders and activists, politicians from the opposition Pheu Thai Party, and even monks who appeared sympathetic to the Red Shirt cause".


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
Suthep however admitted that the government had at least 10 key leaders of the Red Shirts under surveillance. Suthep accused the Pheu Thai Party of hiring people to participate in the protests. Prompong Nopparit, a spokesman of the Pheu Thai Party, denied the allegation and requested evidence that backed the accusation. Nopparit called on the prime minister to dissolve the House as demanded by the protesters.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
In anticipation of the protests, the government set up a tactical operations centre—called the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (also known as Thai: ศอ.รส. )—at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkhen under the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). In northeast Thailand, supporters ofAbhisit's government issued threats against protesters to deter them from travelling to the Bangkok and provincial governors were ordered to obstruct the movement of people.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
Abhisit informed the Democrat Party-led Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that he had intelligence of planned bomb attacks at two locations and grenade attacks in 30–40 locations in Bangkok. He claimed that the protesters would include 2,000 "well-trained hardliners". He also claimed to have received intelligence that there was a terrorist threat of sabotage to take place on 14 March, but did not give details of the nature of the plot. When questioned about the matter, army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the army had no such intelligence. The UDD denied Abhisit's allegations and challenged him to reveal any evidence backing his claims. Suthep claimed that the UDD protesters planned to "besiege government offices and residences of important figures".


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
On 7 March, it was reported that 6,000 assault rifles and explosives had been stolen from Engineer Regiment 401, part of the 4th Army Engineer Battalion in Patthalung. Anonymous sources claimed that the weapons were moved to Bangkok where they would be used to incite unrest. UDD leader Nattawut Saikua voiced suspicion that the army had staged the theft to pin blame on the UDD for any violence. A government raid on a car component factory found parts that could potentially be used to launch M79 grenades. Democrat Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks claimed that this showed that "there are violent elements" among the UDD. Government spokesperson Panitan later admitted that there was no evidence of a link between the parts and the UDD.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
On 9 March, the government issued an Internal Security Act (ISA) for the period 11 to 23 March. A 50,000-strong security force was deployed in Bangkok. Suthep and Abhisit announced that they were moving into an army safe house at the Peace-keeping Operations Command for the duration of the ISA. On 12 March, Suthep announced that all police forces deployed in the capital would be only lightly armed – female officers would carry no weapons, while male officers would only carry batons and shields. He also announced that only SWAT teams and rapid-response units would be heavily armed, and that they would be dispatched only in the event of an emergency.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
As of Friday 12 March, police and military checkpoints were set up along all main routes leading to Bangkok to inspect protesters approaching the capital. The police issued a warning that bus operators transporting people to Bangkok without official permission could have their concessions revoked.


2010 Thai political protests, Events leading up to 14 March protests
Five bombs exploded in Surat Thani, a Democrat Party stronghold, in the early morning of 12 March. Nobody was injured or killed. It was not clear who was behind the bombings. No arrests were made.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
The protests on Sunday 14 March were large and peaceful. Thailand's free-to-air TV channels, all controlled by the government or military, claimed that there were only 25,000 protesters in the main protest site at Phan Fa Bridge. On 15 March, tens of thousands of protesters moved in a caravan to the 11th Infantry Regiment, prompting Abhisit to leave the military base in a military helicopter to "observe traffic". On 16 March, UDD protesters announced that they collect 10 cubic centimetres of blood from volunteers and symbolically pouring the blood at Government House and other sites in Bangkok.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
Negotiations between the protesters and the government failed to resolve the situation. The protesters insisted that Abhisit dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. The government refused to do so before it had amended the constitution. An estimated 100,000 demonstrators turned out on 20 March to parade 46 kilometres through Bangkok in a 10 kilometre-long convoy. This demonstration was peaceful, and aimed at gaining the support of local residents. As usual, the majority of the crowd were UDD Red Shirt activists who travelled from northern provinces to demonstrate, but there also appeared to be some local support lining the streets.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
However, critics claimed that demonstrators had been bribed by the organisation's leadership and that this was a common practice that characterised the polarity of class divisions within the UDD. On 27 March, protesters marched to seven locations in Bangkok where troops were stationed, convincing the troops to withdraw. Suthep Thaugsuban called the withdrawal a temporary "adjustment" and insisted that they would return to their positions later. Protesters expanded their protest to Ratchaprasong intersection, a major Bangkok commercial zone, in imitation of the People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) large-scale 2006 protests.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
The government claimed that the protests were illegal and attempted to evict the protesters without a court order, as the Civil Court had ruled that the prime minister is already empowered to do so. Abhisit's government alleged that the Red Shirt protesters were "rented". Shortly after the demonstrations in mid-March, state spokesman Thepthai scoffed at the apparent support for the UDD, claiming that each protester was given between 2,000 and 3,000 baht for participating. Bystanders, he alleged, were given 500 baht each. Thai English-language newspapers had claimed that protesters from rural areas had been paid to travel to Bangkok, just as previous Yellow Shirt protest organisers had also compensated protesters.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
There were dozens of bombings in Bangkok during the weeks of the protest, with nobody claiming responsibility and no arrests made. No one was killed in the bombings.


2010 Thai political protests, March protests
In two separate incidents, a car was driven into a group of protesters, causing injury to people. One of the incidents occurred at Ratchaprasong intersection the other at Silom Road.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
On 3 April protesters occupied the shopping district of Ratchaprasong. The government declared a state of emergency on the evening of 8 April. The state of emergency permitted the military to detain people it considered a threat to national security, censor the media, and forbid gatherings of more than five persons. Troops barricaded the uplink station for the Thaicom satellite to prevent it from airing People Channel, a TV station operated and initiated by the UDD that had been broadcasting freely for a year, urging listeners to join the UDD and voicing anti-government sentiments.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
Protesters surrounded the station on the afternoon of 9 April. Tear gas was fired into the crowd, prompting the protesters to storm the station and the troops to withdraw. After negotiations, security forces allowed the station to resume broadcasting and protesters left the uplink station. The government again blocked the station's broadcasts soon after protesters left the scene.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
On the afternoon and evening of 10 April, violent clashes occurred when government troops unsuccessfully tried to take back control of the Phan Fa Bridge protest site. Shots and tear gas grenades were fired near the Makhawan Bridge close to the United Nations Bangkok Headquarters Building during the afternoon as troops unsuccessfully attempted to take back the protest area. The troops retreated to the Ministry of Education after several hours. Later that evening, the violence escalated on Khao San Road and at the Khok Wua Intersection, with automatic fire, explosions, and tear gas being used. The violence died down by the early morning, with the temporary result being that the military was not able to seize the protest site.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
According to the Erawan Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Center, 25 people were killed in the clashes. The dead included Japanese cameraman Hiro Muramoto, 10 protesters, nine civilians and five uniformed soldiers. The Center noted more than 800 people injured. Autopsies revealed that 9  of the 10 dead protesters died of gunshots. The military reported that the soldiers killed died from cerebral edema after being hit on the head by thrown rocks. Following the clashes government troops withdrew.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
The military initially claimed that it used rubber bullets and tear gas in the clash, while firing live rounds only into the air. However, video footage from the international media showed soldiers firing assault rifles in fully automatic fire mode in the direction of protesters. Protest leaders claimed that a number of protesters were hit by army snipers from nearby buildings. The military later admitted that troops fired live rounds directly at protesters, allegedly shooting only single rounds to protect injured troops retreating from the clashes. Protesters allegedly used rocks, sticks, petrol bombs, but the military reported attacks involving also guns and grenades. Doctored video footage also purported to show people of an unknown affiliation but in support of the protesters (often referred to as "Black Shirts") firing weapons from the tops of buildings.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
At the height of the clash, it is reported that the Thai Army was met by "Black Shirts", a trained militia armed with M16s, AK-47s, and M-79 grenade launchers, which came in support of Red Shirt protesters. Thai Army commander Colonel Romklao Thuwatham was killed by a grenade attack (filmed by Reuter's journalist Hiro Muramoto, who died later that night from a bullet wound), which also wounded several top Army officers. That event induced an army retreat, leaving weapons and vehicles behind.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
Protesters seized a large quantity of military equipment left behind by retreating troops, including nine M16 assault rifles, 25 Tavor TAR-21 assault rifles, six .50 calibre machine guns, 116 riot shields, 105 batons and 80 suits of body armour. Troops also abandoned six armored personnel carriers and three high-mobility multi-purpose vehicles. Ammunition also went missing, including 580 rubber bullets, 600 .50 calibre rounds, and 8,182 5.56 mm M16 rifle rounds.


2010 Thai political protests, April violence
Protesters remained unwilling to end their protest, and they vowed to continue their rally until the prime minister dissolved the House of Representatives and scheduled elections. One Red Shirt leader said that after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the parliament, he must leave the country as soon as possible. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government has no plans to back down either. "The government will continue the operation to take back the roads from the protesters because their occupation is unlawful," he said.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes
On 12 April 2010, the Election Commission of Thailand called for the dissolution of Abhisit's Democrat Party. Meanwhile, Thai troops advanced on protesters in the early morning firing live ammunition. Protesters were repeatedly dispersed and driven back, but kept regrouping behind burning barricades, and threw numerous objects at the soldiers. By daybreak, the soldiers continued to charge the protesters, while being pelted with petrol bombs. Anti -government protesters said on 14 April 2010, they would all congregate at a single site in a Bangkok shopping district, preparing for a "final battle" with the authorities.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes
On 16 April, Thai security service officers entered the SC Park Hotel to arrest the protest leaders whom the Deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, called "terrorists". One of the opposition leaders, Arisman Pongruangrong, escaped by a rope from a window of the hotel as forces laid siege to the hotel. He said "[They] wanted to kill me. The policeman tried to kill me." Although government officials admitted the raid was unsuccessful there were rumours that this was the start of a wider crackdown.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes
Suthep said, "Innocent people should leave the protests because the authorities have to take decisive measures against terrorists." On 16 April, Prime Minister Abhisit relieved Suthep from his security responsibilities and replaced him with the Commander of the Royal Thai Army, General Anupong Paochinda. In the subsequent week, several M-79 grenades were fired at government buildings, although no injuries were reported. Protesters, meanwhile, built barricades with sharpened bamboo in the Ratchaprasong tourist district.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes
On 21 April anti-government protesters stopped a train carrying military vehicles in northeastern Thailand. Protesters, fearing the equipment was being moved to Bangkok, attacked the train in Khon Kaen, about 280 miles north of Bangkok. They demanded that 10 Red Shirt members accompany the train on its journey to ensure it did not reach Bangkok.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes
Fritz Yee, a Filipino member of the Red Shirts, commented that the situation was becoming more and more uncontrollable among the Red Shirts and said while we "do not condone but we cannot control. There's no more control in the followers."


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
On the days leading up to 22 April, pro-government ("no color" or "multicolor shirts") rallies appeared in Bangkok alongside anti-government demonstrations for the first time. Some of the demonstrators were clearly pro-government, while others were just citizens weary of the disruption in their lives caused by the Red Shirts. On Wednesday, 21 April, the two groups clashed near the start of Silom Road. On 22 April, the two groups clashed again. According to BBC reporter Alastair Leithead, a small group of people "walked through police lines and started throwing bottles and stones towards barricades manned by Red Shirt protesters."


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
The Red Shirts responded by launching fireworks into the air. Pro -government protesters urged the military to attack, shouting "Fight, fight!" The police did not respond to the exchange. Anti - Thaksin Yellow Shirt protesters threatened "to step into the conflict and push out the Red Shirts themselves if the army doesn't take firmer action" against the Red Shirt protesters, who are being encouraged by Thaksin Shinawatra from abroad.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
Early on 22 April, the army warned Red Shirt protesters that their chances to cease and desist were "running out". Ten thousand troops were moved to central Bangkok. The military threatened to "use tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, if necessary", to combat the UDD protesters. "If we move in, we will attempt to arrest the leaders," said army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. "The government will be very decisive but in the beginning of the operation there may be chaos." UDD leaders remained defiant, saying it was up to General Anupong Paochinda "whether to kill people or to stop the killing."


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
On the evening of 22 April, around 20:00, a series of explosions in Bangkok alleged by the government to have been the work of Red Shirt protesters killed one person and injured 86 more, including at least four foreigners. The explosions were caused by at least five M-79 grenades. Three of the grenades exploded at the Sala Daeng BTS station, one near the Dusit Thani Hotel, and one near a bank.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
It was the first time during the protests that a grenade attack occurred in a densely populated area and the first time that serious injuries occurred, although dozens of grenade attacks had occurred since the protest started. The government did not blame the Red Shirt movement for the attack, but rather unspecified "terrorists". Suthep stated, "the M79 launcher had a 400-metre shooting range and it was clear that it was shot from behind the King Rama VI Monument where the Red Shirts are rallying". Red Shirt leaders denied responsibility for the attacks.


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
Following the blasts, Abhisit called an emergency meeting with security chiefs to assess the worsening crisis. Thaugsuban said the government had no immediate plans to crack down on the protester encampment because there are a large number of women and children at the site. A multi-agency investigation into the 10 and 22 April violence was announced. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the situation "a moment requiring restraint on all sides".


2010 Thai political protests, Reactions to clashes, Explosions and pro-government rallies in Bangkok
Early on 23 April, riot police went to the edge of the protesters' barrier and demanded it be dismantled. After a short standoff, both sides backed away from the barrier.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer
On 23 April, Red Shirt leader Veera Musikapong offered to end the protests if the government agreed to dissolve parliament within 30 days and hold elections within days. "If the government accepts and is open to the talks, we are ready to disperse to restore peace in the country," he said. He further implied that protest sites must not be attacked during any potential negotiations, and that an independent inquiry into the recent violence must be conducted. The offer marked a change from the protesters previous demand that parliament be dissolved immediately.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer
After talking with the opposition, Abhisit rejected their offer saying "Because they use violence and intimidation I cannot accept this [offer]". "The 30-day ultimatum is not an issue," he added. "The dissolution [of parliament] must be done for the benefit of the entire country, not just for the Red Shirts, and it must be done at the right time." Abhisit promised to clear up the situation when he gave his weekly address on 25 April.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer
On 26 April 2010, the Election Commission's request to dissolve the Democrat Party was forwarded to the Constitutional Court. The move prompted King Bhumibol Adulyadej to break his silence on the protests, telling the group of newly appointed judges of courts of justice to show steadfastness and to carry out their duties "strictly and honestly."


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Conflict resumes
A soldier was killed and 18 protesters wounded in clashes between security forces and UDD members on Wednesday, 28 April. The clashes had started when troops and riot police blocked UDD protesters from going to Talad Thai to campaign for the anti-government rally. Protesters had attempted to advance on the security forces, but were repelled by troops and police officers using tear gas and rubber bullets. Security forces then began to push forward, and drive protesters back down the highway using live ammunition, and fighting resumed after a temporary calm. After several hours, security forces regained control of the area, and dispersed the protest. The soldier who died was shot in the head, apparently by accidental friendly fire, during a tense confrontation. It was the 27th fatality since UDD supporters set up their protest camp on the streets of Bangkok.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Conflict resumes
On 30 April, more than 200 Red Shirt protesters forced their way into Chulalongkorn Hospital, which was close to the main protest camp, searching for soldiers they claimed were hiding there. No soldiers were found in an hour of searching, during which time nurses were threatened and many patients frightened. The next day, some 600 patients were evacuated to hospitals far from the protest site. UDD leader Weng Tojirakarn, himself a medical doctor, apologised for the assault on the hospital, calling it "inappropriate" and "unreasonable". Reuters described the incident as "a clumsy storming of a hospital that raised questions over whether the movement is losing direction".


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Conflict resumes
On 2 May, Abhisit said that his government was preparing to end the standoff. A special cabinet meeting ruled out declaring martial law, but authorised US$8 million to upgrade the police force in Bangkok. Abhist told reporters, "We are sending a clear signal that we've given a lot of time for people to leave Ratchaprasong ... we are now in the process of cutting off support and seal the area off before we actively move in." He declined to be more specific about when troops would move in. "We continue to exercise restraint and patience ... but the public patience is running out and the government has to ... uphold the law [for] the majority of Thai society," he added.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Conflict resumes
By 2 May, as many as 100,000 people had lost their jobs, gone bankrupt, or both, as a result of the protests shutting down Bangkok. The government is planning on providing special assistance for those affected.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Conflict resumes
The actions taken by the Red Shirts were described by an Abu Dhabi newspaper, The National, as more than mere protesting, but even as "insurrection". However, the number of protesters was decreasing and rumours spread that the protesters were financed by former PM Thaksin to get his conviction revoked.


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Election proposal
On 3 May, Abhisit proposed to dissolve parliament in September and hold an election on 14 November if the protesters were willing to stand down. The following day Red Shirt leaders expressed qualified support for the plan, but wanted more information about when parliament would be dissolved. On the morning of 8 May, two policemen were killed and several bystanders were injured by a drive-by shooting near the Silom financial district. Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn denied any involvement: "We are very sorry and we want to condemn the ones who were behind the attacks."


2010 Thai political protests, Ceasefire offer, Election proposal
Protesters demanded that Thailand's deputy prime minister be arrested for causing the deaths of 25 protesters when troops were used against protests on 10 April. The protesters refused to end the rally, and on 13 May, the offer of an election was withdrawn.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
On Friday, 14 May, Thai police and army units to surround and cut off the protesters main camp, meeting heavy resistance from the Red Shirts resulting in the deaths of two people with dozens more injured, including Thai Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng ('Commander Red'), a self-described key military adviser to the Red Shirts who was suspended from duty in the Thai army. A backer and part of the protesters' more radical wing, he had accused Red Shirt leaders of not being hard line enough. He was hit in the head by a sniper's bullet and died a few days later on 17 May.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
One of the Red Shirt leaders, Nattawut Saikua, accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of starting a civil war. This came as there were reports of a policeman opening fire on soldiers near a police station in Bangkok, showing that there may have been divisions within the security services themselves. Both the British and US embassies in Bangkok were closed for security reasons.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
Just before 15:00 GMT on 14 May, Sky News reported that the death toll from the latest fighting had risen to five, with 46 others wounded. People in Bangkok claimed that the area has descended into a war zone as the two sides battled for control. During the clashes, France 24 journalist Nelson Rand was "gravely wounded" by bullets from an army assault rifle, although who actually used the weapon is unknown. On Friday night, several grenade explosions were heard from a nearby shopping centre and municipal railway station in the upscale shopping area. As of 18:00, 14 May, the BBC reported that seven people had died and over 100 were wounded in the latest violence in Bangkok. Canada announced the temporary closure of its embassy.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
According to The Telegraph, as of 21:40 GMT, 14 May, at least 16 people had been killed, none of whom were members of the security services. There were several incidents of police officers joining with the Red Shirts and exchanging fire with the army, prompting fears that a civil war was imminent. The number of injured was thought to be 157, with that number predicted to rise significantly as fighting continued.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
By 02:20 GMT on 15 May, the death toll reached 16, with more than 157 injured. Street battles continued, with no end in sight. Total casualties since 12 May amounted to 24 killed, with 187 injured on the night of 14–15 May alone. One of the dead was a sergeant of the Royal Thai Air Force, who was killed by friendly fire.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
Protest leaders once again warned of civil war if the army attempted to storm their camp. Several areas of the city near the protesters were designated as "live fire zones" by the military, and protesters entering these zones were to be shot on sight. Due to food and water shortages as a result of the army blockade, it was estimated the protesters would only be able to hold out for a few more days, and after that have to start plundering local shops.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
On 16 May, the death-toll rose to 33, with the number of wounded rising to 230. Reporters in the vicinity of the violence had to cancel live broadcasts due to the threat of sniper attacks from military forces in the area. The government urged the very young and very old to leave the camp by Monday afternoon, prompting fears of an army crackdown. They also started telling the public that the foreign media, such as CNN, BBC, Reuters, and others, could not be trusted as they are biased. On 17 May Thai Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who was shot in the head by a sniper on 13 May, died.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
On 17 May, Thai military helicopters dropped leaflets on the Red Shirt's main encampment, urging them to leave. The Red Shirts responded by firing homemade rockets at the helicopters. The encampment was completely surrounded, and the Thai government gave Red Shirts a deadline of 15:00 to withdraw. Clashes continued, with Thai troops firing directly towards or at any movement around the protest perimeter with live ammunition, and protesters also using potentially lethal tactics, according to a Canadian journalist. Red Shirts shot fireworks at the army, and used a broom handle to rapidly fire firecrackers. At least two Red Shirt protesters were shot by army snipers. According to medical officials, the casualty toll stood at 35 dead, and 242 wounded. By the end of the day, the casualty toll had risen to 37 dead and 266 wounded.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
Sporadic clashes continued on 18 May, but these skirmishes were less intense than previous confrontations. The death toll rose to 39 as the day progressed, and it was thought that a military crackdown was imminent as troops and armoured personnel carriers (APC)s gathered around the protest site urging residents and protesters to leave. The army moved in soon afterwards, backed by armoured personnel carriers and smashed through the protesters main barricades. Two Red Shirts were shot and wounded during the opening stages of this operation as other Red Shirts set alight the kerosene-soaked barricades to deter advancing soldiers and obscure their view.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
On 19 May, the army launched an all out assault using APCs and defeated Red Shirts defences, leaving at least five dead, including an Italian journalist and two soldiers were seriously wounded in a grenade attack. The protest leaders surrendered to police in a bid to avoid further bloodshed. Fighting between Red Shirts and the army continued in many parts of the city.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
Red Shirts set fire to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, banks, at least two shopping centres (including Central World at the Red Shirt's main protest site), a TV station, a cinema which burned to the ground, and hotels had to build barricades to protect themselves. The total number of burnt buildings was 35. The total death toll since 14 May is believed to stand at 44. Thaksin, from his refuge in Montenegro, denied influencing the Red Shirt movement.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
There were reports of clashes in Thailand's northern provinces after the surrender was announced, resulting in a town hall being burned by Red Shirts in Udon Thani Province. Since 14 May, 51 people were killed in clashes, 12 of whom died during the army crackdown and subsequent fighting in Bangkok.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence
The casualty count as of 22 May stood at 85 dead and 1,378 injured.


2010 Thai political protests, May violence, Death of Fabio Polenghi
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi was killed by a grenade launched from a terrorist M79 and died side by side with a soldier. Numerous other reports, including one by the International Federation of Journalists, noted that Polenghi was shot. Autopsy results showed that Polenghi died from a high velocity bullet that entered his heart and caused damage to his lungs and liver. A reporter from Der Spiegel who was with Polenghi noted that he was photographing from the protesters' side and was running from advancing soldiers. The Italian Embassy pursued its own investigations.


2010 Thai political protests, Investigations
A government-ordered independent investigation exonerated the military and security forces of all blame in the killings. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that the soldiers did not attack the protesters, but blamed them for running into a military unit. The government claimed that unidentified "Black Shirts" fired on protesters.


2010 Thai political protests, Investigations
A Human Rights Watch investigation found that Black Shirts were often well-trained active duty and former soldiers claiming that their objective was to protect Red Shirt protesters, but their real job was to terrorise the soldiers, and some actually wore military uniforms.


2010 Thai political protests, Investigations
On 17 September 2012, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) released its final report on the April-May 2010 political violence. According to US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, "...the TRCT's final report seems to give a balanced treatment to both sides involved in the political violence two years ago—alleging that both the UDD and government security forces, including the military, were responsible for escalating the situation."


2010 Thai political protests, 19 September 2010 rally
The Red Shirts organised mass rallies across Thailand to mark the ousting of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin by a military coup four years earlier, and to mark the final day of the military crackdown on their protests four months ago which left 91 people dead.


2010 Thai political protests, 19 September 2010 rally
The peaceful gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection, an area in downtown Bangkok which was occupied by the Red Shirts between 3 April 2010 and 19 May 2010, the day that the Thai military ended the protests and on which day the protesters set fire to many buildings across Thailand including CentralWorld in Bangkok, attracted approximately 10,000 demonstrators.


2010 Thai political protests, 2011
Protests continued, as both the Red Shirt UDD and the Yellow Shirt PAD scheduled protests for mid-February 2011. CAPO (Center for the Administration of Peace and Order), first established in August 2009, was re-established to supervise imposition of Chapter 2 of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok, from 9 to 23 February, to control rallies planned by the PAD and the UDD; the local reaction to the Cambodian–Thai border dispute forms a background to the revival of the CAPO. These protests continued in Bangkok and other cities until July, at times drawing hundreds of thousands of people, but rarely involving violence or conflict otherwise.


2010 Thai political protests, 2011
Continuing protests in early-2011 drew condemnation from the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, which claimed that the protests breached the constitution by infringing upon the rights of others, whereby the ongoing gatherings closed streets in the Ratchaprasong area. Since the July 2011 election, political gatherings in public abated.


2010 Thailand Five's
The 2010 Thailand Five's  (Thai:ฟุตซอลสี่เส้า ไทยแลนด์ ไฟว์ 2010) is an international futsal competition. It was organized by the Football Association of Thailand or the FAT. The tournament is set to be a round-robin format with all matches being held at the CentralPlaza Udon Thani in Udon thani, Thailand on 8 to 11 April 2010.


2010 Thailand Five's
This edition will feature the host Thailand and three invited teams. The three teams that have been invited are Iran, Argentina and Uzbekistan.


2010 Thailand Five's, Venue
The matches are played at the CentralPlaza Udon Thani in Udon thani.


2010 Thailand National Games
The 39th Thailand National Games (Thai: การแข่งขันกีฬาแห่งชาติ ครั้งที่ 39 "ชลบุรีเกมส์", also known as the 2010 National Games and the Chonburi Games) were held in Chonburi, Thailand from 5 to 19 December 2010, with competition in 39 sports and 76 disciplines. These games were held in the Institute of Physical Education Chonburi Campus Sport Center.


2010 Thailand National Games, Ceremony, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 39th Thailand National Games were held on December 9, 2013 at Institute of Physical Education Chonburi Campus Stadium.


2010 Thailand National Games, Ceremony, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 39th Thailand National Games were held on December 19, 2013 at Institute of Physical Education Chonburi Campus Stadium.


2010 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
The 2010 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by sixth year head coach Kevin Higgins and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They played as members of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936.


2010 The Dominion Curling Club Championship
The 2010 Dominion Curling Club Championship was held November 23–28 at the Charlottetown and Cornwall Curling Clubs in Charlottetown and Cornwall, Prince Edward Island.


2010 The Dominion Curling Club Championship
Saskatchewan's Sutherland Curling Club won the men's event, having to win four straight games in the process after finishing the pool round in a three-way tie for second place at a 4–2 record. They defeated Ontario in the final, a team that had been undefeated until that point (including a pool victory over Saskatchewan).


2010 The Dominion Curling Club Championship
Alberta's Lethbridge Curling Club won the women's event over Saskatchewan.


2010 The Jersey International
The 2010 The Jersey International was a professional tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It was part of the 2010 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Jersey, Channel Islands between 22 and 28 March 2010.


2010 The Jersey International, ATP entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2010 The Jersey International, Champions, Doubles
Rohan Bopanna /  Ken Skupski def. Jonathan Marray /  Jamie Murray, 6–2, 2–6, [10–6]


2010 The Jersey International – Doubles
Eric Butorac and Travis Rettenmaier were the defending champions, but they chose to not participate this year. Rohan Bopanna and Ken Skupski won in the final 6–2, 2–6, [10–6], against Jonathan Marray and Jamie Murray.


2010 The Jersey International – Singles
Daniel Evans was the defending champion, but he lost to Tobias Kamke in the first round. Jan Hernych defeated 7–6(3), 6–4 her compatriot Jan Minář in the final.


2010 The National (December)
The Swiss Chalet National was held from December 15 to 19, 2010 at the Wesbild Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. 18 men's teams were playing for 8 quarterfinal spots in a round-robin format. The purse for this event was CAD$100,000.


2010 The National (December)
The event was the second men's Grand Slam event of the 2010-11 curling season.


2010 The National (January)
The 2010 The National was the second Grand Slam event of the men's 2009-10 curling season. It was held January 6-10 at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario.


2010 The National (January)
The event featured just two international teams, gearing up for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. John Shuster's Team USA failed to make the playoffs while Great Britain's David Murdoch lost in the quarter final. Also, Canada's Olympic representative, Kevin Martin failed to make the playoffs at a Slam for the first time since 2003.


2010 The National (January)
The final game featured Brad Gushue's rink from St. John's, Newfoundland against Randy Ferbey's Edmonton rink. Gushue, who lost last year's event beat Ferbey, and with it won his first Grand Slam title.


2010 The National (January)
Gushue's team won $24,000 out of a total purse of $100,000.


2010 Third Division Football Tournament
The Third Division Football Tournament for the 2010 season in the Maldives played with 35 teams.


2010 Thomas & Uber Cup
The 2010 Thomas & Uber Cup was the 26th tournament of the Thomas Cup and 23rd tournament of the Uber Cup, the most important and most prestigious badminton tournaments in men's and women's team competition, respectively. The 2010 championships marked the Thomas & Uber Cup's 10 year return to Malaysia which has always seen great fan interest in the sport.


2010 Thomas & Uber Cup
The final rounds were held from May 9 to May 16 at Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which was also the same venue of the 2000 Thomas & Uber Cup, when Indonesia get their 12th title in the Thomas Cup after defeat China by 3-0 in the final. But, Indonesia defeated by China, also by 0-3 in the final, to ensure the China's eighth title in the Thomas Cup, while Korea won the Uber Cup after defeat China with 3–1 score.


2010 Thomas & Uber Cup, Host city selection
Badminton World Federation initially intended to split the Thomas and Uber Cup finals as separate tournaments. Malaysia was the only bidder for Thomas Cup finals, while China and South Korea were interested to host the Uber Cup finals. The plan to split the tournaments was eventually abandoned and Malaysia was asked to hold the Uber Cup final together.


2010 Thomas & Uber Cup squads
This article lists the confirmed squads lists for badminton's 2010 Thomas & Uber Cup between May 9 and May 16, 2010.


2010 Thomas & Uber Cups Preliminaries for Africa
The 2010 Thomas & Uber Cups Preliminaries for Africa were held in Kampala, Uganda, between 20 and 23 February and  organised by Uganda Badminton Association. Nigeria and South Africa was the defending champion in men's and women's team events. This tournament serves as qualification stage for African countries for the 2010 Thomas & Uber Cup.


2010 Thomas Cup group stage
This article lists the complete results of the group stage of the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


2010 Thomas Cup knockout stage
This article lists the complete results of the knockout stage of the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All times are Malaysia Time (UTC+08:00).


2010 Three Days of De Panne
The 2010 Three Days of De Panne was the 34th edition of the Three Days of De Panne cycle race and was held on 30 March to 1 April 2010. The race started in Middelkerke and finished in De Panne. The race was won by David Millar.


2010 Three National Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 Three National Figure Skating Championships (Slovak: Majstrovstva CR a SR seniori) included the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The event was held 18–20 December 2009 at the MOSiR Cieszyn in Cieszyn, Poland. Medals were awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels.


2010 Three National Figure Skating Championships
The three national championships were held simultaneously and the results were then split by country. The top three skaters from each country formed their national podiums. This was the fourth consecutive season that the Czech and Slovak Championships were held simultaneously, and the second in which Poland also participated.


2010 Three National Figure Skating Championships
In the senior pairs event, Kemp / King of United Kingdom and Sergeeva / Glebov of Estonia competed as guest skaters.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections
Elections were held in the organized municipalities in the Thunder Bay District of Ontario on October 25, 2010 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Conmee
Kevin Holland was acclaimed as reeve of Conmee, and Mary-Lynne Hunt, Grant Arnold, Robert Rydholm and Robert McMaster were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Dorion
No council elections were held in Dorion, as the entire council won by acclamation. Dave Harris will serve as reeve; Ed Chambers, Don Modin, Diane Poulin and Kitty Dumonski will serve on council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Gillies
No council elections were held in Gillies, as the entire council won by acclamation. Rick Kieri will serve as reeve; Rudy Buitenhuis, William Groenheide, Henry Jantunen and Linda Turk will serve on council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Greenstone
Renald Beaulieu won the mayoralty of Greenstone, and Chris Walterson, William Assad, Mary Moylan, Jane Jantunen, Ronald Melhuish, Kevin Melanson, Jay Daiter and Armand Giguère were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Manitouwadge
Incumbent mayor John MacEachern was re-elected in Manitouwadge; Sheldon Plummer, Connie Hunter, Donna Jaunzarins and Natalie Labbee were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Marathon
No council elections were held in Marathon, as the entire council won by acclamation. Rick Dumas will serve as mayor; Terry Fox, Ray Lake, Roger Souckey and Kelly Tsubouchi will serve on council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Neebing
Ziggy Polkowski defeated incumbent mayor Steven Harasen in Neebing; Dawne Kilgour, Roger Shott, Bev Dale, Curtis Coulson, Bill Lankinen and Michael McCooeye were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Nipigon
Incumbent mayor Richard Harvey was acclaimed back into office in Nipigon; James Foulds, Gordon MacKenzie, Levina Collins and Louise Dupuis were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, O'Connor
Incumbent mayor Ron Nelson was acclaimed back into office in O'Connor; Kevin Foekens, Gwen Garbutt, Bishop Racicot and Jim Vezina were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Oliver Paipoonge
Incumbent mayor Lucia Kloosterhuis won re-election in Oliver Paipoonge. Bernie Kamphof, Allan Vis, Jim Byers and Eric Collingwood were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Red Rock
Incumbent mayor Gary Nelson was re-elected in Red Rock. Steven Carruthers, Darquise Robinson, Judith Sobush and Sara Park were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Schreiber
Don McArthur was acclaimed mayor of Schreiber. Mark Figliomeni, Bob Krause, Lorraine Huard and Pat Halonen were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Shuniah
Incumbent reeve Maria Harding was re-elected in Shuniah. Ron Giardetti, Donna Blunt, Ab Covello and Alana Bishop were elected to council.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Terrace Bay
There were no council elections in Terrace Bay, as incumbent mayor Michael King and councillors George Davis, Gino Leblanc, Jamie Robinson and Rick St. Louis were all acclaimed back into office.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Thunder Bay
Keith Hobbs defeated incumbent mayor Lynn Peterson in Thunder Bay.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Thunder Bay
Voters are asked to elect a mayor, five at-large city councillors and seven ward councillors. Unofficially, of 80,796 registered voters, 38,327 votes were cast. Voter turnout was 47.43%, a significant increase over the 38.19% turnout of the 2006 election.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Thunder Bay, Councillors at-large
Five councillors are elected at-large to sit on City Council. Nineteen people ran for the position in 2010. Each registered voter can choose up to five candidates. Incumbents Larry Hebert, Iain Angus, Rebecca Johnson, and Aldo Ruberto were re-elected, with former mayor Ken Boshcoff replacing Frank Pullia, who ran for mayor. Both Boshcoff and Hebert gained more votes than the mayor.


2010 Thunder Bay District municipal elections, Thunder Bay, Ward councillors
The city of Thunder Bay is divided into seven electoral wards: Current River, McIntyre, McKellar, Neebing, Northwood, Red River, and Westfort. Residents of each ward elect one member to represent their ward on city council. Twenty-five people ran for these positions. All six incumbent ward councillors were re-elected. The incumbent councillor for McKellar did not seek re-election.


2010 Thurrock Council election
The result of the Thurrock Council election, 2010 (held on 6 May) was that Thurrock Council stay under no overall control. The Conservative party gained two seats from Labour while Labour gained one seat from the Conservatives. Of the 16 wards contested, eight were won by the Conservatives and eight by Labour. The composition of the resulting council was:


2010 Thurrock Council election
A few days after the election, Stuart St Clair-Haslam resigned the Conservative party whip. Conservative councillor Ian Harrison also later resigned the Conservative whip, while Anne Cheale described herself as "non aligned". Following the election, John Kent (Labour) was elected council leader, defeating the former leader, Garry Hague (Conservative), by 25 votes to 23. Kent was supported by the Labour group, the two non-aligned councillors and the BNP councillor. This ended the Conservative administration that had been in power since 2004. At the same meeting, Anne Cheale was elected mayor. At this stage the party make-up was Labour 22 councillors, Conservatives 21, two East Tilbury Independents, three 'Thurrock Concerned Conservatives' and one British National Party councillor.


2010 Thurrock Council election
In November 2010 the BNP councillor resigned from the party to become a single Independent. In March 2011, Councillor St Clair-Haslam  announced that he had joined the UKIP.


2010 Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen
The 2010 Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen was the 23rd edition of the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, a women's cycling stage race in Germany. It was part of the 2010 women's road cycling season. It was rated by the UCI as a category 2.1 race and was held between 20 and 25 July 2010.


2010 Tibetan language protest
The 2010 Tibetan language protest was a series of protests in Tongren County, Gonghe County and Maqên County, in Qinghai Province; Minzu University of China in Beijing; and Xiahe County in Gansu Province, People's Republic of China by ethnic Tibetan students over the period of October 20 through October 27, 2010.


2010 Tibetan language protest, Protests
A range of reports from hundreds to 9000 people were alleged to have been involved in the protest. According to a local Tibetan blogger, the head of the county's education department drove out and assured the protesters that "their grievances would be addressed by senior officials". A series of apparently related protests inspired by this took place in Gonghe County on October 20; in Maqên County in the neighboring Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on October 21; in Xiahe County on October 25. 400 Tibetan students also staged a supportive demonstration on October 22 on the campus of Minzu University of China in Beijing.


2010 Tibetan language protest, Official response
On Oct. 29, the Government of Qinghai said these incidents reflect some misunderstandings of the bilingual education policy by Tibetan people and reiterated that "The guiding ideology and the basic principles of strengthening and improving the bilingual education is completely correct" and that "as the state is promoting the use of Standard Mandarin and Chinese characters, the right of using the local minority languages by minority peoples should be sufficiently respected and protected".


2010 Tidjelabine bombing
The 2010 Tidjelabine bombing occurred on April 7, 2010 when an explosive bomb detonated against a patrol of the Gendarmerie Nationale in the town of Tidjelabine, Boumerdès Province, Algeria killing 2 and injuring 5. The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is suspected as being responsible.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2010 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held between March 6 until March 14, 2010 in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Halifax Metro Centre. It marked the sixth time the Brier had been to Halifax, and the second time in eight years, having previously hosted the 2003 Nokia Brier.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2010 Brier was without its two-time defending champions, the Kevin Martin Alberta rink, which did not participate in playdowns, instead focusing on the 2010 Winter Olympics. Alberta was represented for the first time by the former Canada Cup champion, Kevin Koe. Koe's brother, Jamie skipped the Northwest Territories/Yukon team for the fourth time. The 2010 was the second Brier in a row where two brothers skipped different teams (2009 was Glenn Howard vs. Russ Howard.) Glenn Howard represented Ontario once again, having won a record fifth straight provincial championship.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier
However his brother Russ did not compete in the playdowns for New Brunswick. That province was represented by Russ' former third, James Grattan. The 1996 and 1999 Brier champion Jeff Stoughton skipped for Manitoba for the eighth time, a record for that province. Former Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue skipped for Newfoundland and Labrador for the seventh time in eight years.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier
Rounding out the field were Darrell McKee of Saskatchewan in his third Brier, Rod MacDonald who skipped Prince Edward Island for the third time, Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario playing in his third Brier, Jeff Richard of British Columbia, Serge Reid of Quebec and Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc who all played their first Briers.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier
Kevin Koe's Alberta rink defeated Glenn Howard of Ontario in the final with a score of 6–5 to win the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier.


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Kevin Koe Third: Blake MacDonald Second: Carter Rycroft Lead: Nolan Thiessen Alternate: Jamie King


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jeff Richard Third: Tom Shypitka Second: Tyler Orme Lead: Chris Anderson Alternate: Kyle Anderson


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jeff StoughtonThird: Kevin ParkSecond: Rob FowlerLead: Steve GouldAlternate: Randy Dutiaume


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : James Grattan Third: Steve Howard Second: Jason Vaughan Lead: Peter Case Alternate: Bobby Vaughan


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Ryan Fry Lead: Jamie Korab Alternate: Glenn Goss


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brad JacobsThird: E.J. HarndenSecond: Ryan HarndenLead: Caleb FlaxeyAlternate: Rob Thomas


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Ian Fitzner-LeBlancThird: Stuart MacLean Second: Kent Smith Lead: Phil Crowell Alternate: Mark Robar


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Glenn Howard Third: Richard Hart Second: Brent Laing Lead: Craig Savill Alternate: Steve Bice


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Rod MacDonald Third: Kevin Champion Second: Mark O'Rourke Lead: Andrew RobinsonAlternate: Peter MacDonald


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Serge Reid Third: François GionestSecond: Simon CollinLead: Steeve VilleneuveAlternate: Pierre Charette


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Darrell McKeeThird: Bruce KorteSecond: Roger KorteLead: Rob MarkowskyAlternate: Jason Jacobson


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jamie KoeThird: Kevin WhiteheadSecond: Brad ChorostkowskiLead: Martin GavinAlternate: Jon Solberg


2010 Tim Hortons Brier, Round robin results
All draw times are listed in Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4).


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt
On May 1, 2010, a terrorist attack was attempted in Times Square in Manhattan, New York. Two street vendors alerted NYPD after they spotted smoke coming from a vehicle, and a car bomb was discovered. The bomb had been ignited, but failed to explode, and was disarmed before it caused any casualties. Two days later, federal agents arrested Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old Pakistan-born resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who had become a U.S. citizen in April 2009. He was arrested after he had boarded Emirates Flight 202 to Dubai at John F. Kennedy International Airport. He admitted attempting the car bombing and said that he had trained at a Pakistani terrorist training camp, according to U.S. officials.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt
United States Attorney General Eric Holder said that Shahzad's intent had been "to kill Americans." Shahzad was charged in federal court in Manhattan on May 4 with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and other federal crimes related to explosives. More than a dozen people were arrested by Pakistani officials in connection with the plot. Holder said the Pakistani Taliban directed the attack and may have financed it.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned of "severe consequences" if an attack like this were to be successful and traced back to Pakistan. The Obama administration saw a need for retaliatory options, including a unilateral military strike in Pakistan, if a future successful attack was to be traced to Pakistan-based militants.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt
On October 5, 2010, Shahzad was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to a 10-count indictment in June, including charges of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting an act of terrorism.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
The suspect's vehicle, a dark blue 1993 Nissan Pathfinder sport utility vehicle with dark tinted windows, entered Times Square at approximately 6:28 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday evening, May 1, 2010, as seen on a surveillance video.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
Two minutes later, two street vendors, T-shirt seller Lance Orton, 56, and handbag seller Duane Jackson, 58 noticed smoke drifting from vents near the back seat of the unoccupied vehicle, which was parked with its engine running and its hazard lights on. They also heard firecrackers going off inside.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
Meanwhile, Alioune Niasse, a Senegalese immigrant who sells photographs on the Square, was among those who noticed the vehicle and alerted a mounted policeman. The vehicle had been parked on a tourist-crowded block at the eastern corner of 1 Astor Plaza (intersection of West 45th Street and Broadway), near the entrance to the Minskoff Theatre which was housing the musical The Lion King. The police officer approached the Pathfinder to investigate, and observed the smoke, canisters inside, and the smell of gunpowder. He immediately called for backup, a bomb disposal team, and the Fire Department.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
The police quickly evacuated and barricaded the area stretching from 43rd Street to 49th Street on Seventh Avenue, and 45th Street from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue, of all vehicle and foot traffic, including Broadway-performance attendees. They also evacuated several buildings near the vehicle, including the New York Marriott Marquis hotel. While many Broadway theaters had their opening curtains delayed, all shows gave their performances that night.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
The vehicle was set ablaze, but did not detonate. Upon arrival, the bomb disposal team used a remote-controlled robotic device to break out a window of the vehicle, and explore its contents.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
Investigators believed the car bomb was actually made up of four separate, individual explosive components – in effect, four bombs comprising one large bomb. The firecrackers would have started the process by setting off triggering devices, attached to the gasoline. That would have created an explosion that would then have in turn set off the propane and the fertilizer. A cell phone and wristwatch recovered from the vehicle may have been intended as separate timing/triggering devices. The maker of the "bomb" incorrectly surmised that the urea/sugar mixture fertilizer would work like the ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer which was used in the Oklahoma City bombing.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Car bombing attempt
The improvised explosive device's ignition source malfunctioned, however, and failed to set it off as intended. Had it detonated, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the bomb would have cut the car in half, and "would have caused casualties, a significant fireball." Police said the bomb would likely also have sprayed shrapnel, and killed or wounded many people.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation
Shortly after the bomb was discovered, the police looked for a male who was seen on surveillance footage, changing his shirt in Shubert Alley (which runs between 44th and 45th Streets, just west of Broadway). By May 4, however, he was no longer of interest to the police. Investigators also looked for another person captured on video running north on Broadway, away from the area.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation
In the early stages of the investigation, officials considered several possibilities. Police Commissioner Kelly mentioned lone-wolf terrorism, saying: "A terrorist act doesn't necessarily have to be conducted by an organization, an individual can do it on their own." The police also investigated whether the bomb was planted in relation to threats posted on the Revolution Muslim website against creators of South Park from Comedy Central. Investigators compared similarities between the Times Square device and the two devices discovered outside a London bar in the al-Qaeda 2007 London car bombs.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
Investigators examined the vehicle at a forensics center in Jamaica, Queens, for fibers, fingerprints, hair, and DNA evidence. They began tracking where the bomb materials were purchased. Commissioner Kelly said the bomb components were all "locally available materials." At least three people other than the primary suspect were involved in buying the bomb materials, sources said. The Pathfinder and bomb components were next taken to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
The vehicle identification number (VIN) plate, a unique serial number used to identify individual motor vehicles, had been removed from the car's dashboard and the door VIN sticker, but police retrieved the VIN from the bottom of its engine block. The investigators traced the SUV's last registered owner, and the female college student who sold the suspect the Pathfinder. Law enforcement officials recovered the suspect's pre-paid disposable cell phone's number from the cell phone of the seller, and ran it through a number of databases.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
They determined that the disposable phone had been used for calls to and from a Pakistani telephone number which they knew to be associated with Faisal Shahzad. The phone had also been used to call a fireworks store in rural Pennsylvania. They collected his e-mail address from an email which he sent to the seller's computer.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
Sets of keys left in the Pathfinder included one to Shahzad's house in Connecticut, and another to one of his other cars, a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo. Intending to use his Isuzu for escape, Shahzad had parked it eight blocks from the bomb site before the attack. He left the keys in the Pathfinder and had to take the train home. He returned for his Isuzu the following day, with a second set of keys.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
The Pathfinder's license plates did not match its registration, and had apparently been taken from a Ford F-150 pickup truck awaiting repair at a Stratford, Connecticut, garage. The registered owner of the plates did not appear to be involved in the incident.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Tracking the vehicle
E-ZPass and other camera records at toll plazas were reviewed to identify where the vehicle entered Manhattan. Law enforcement officials reviewed security camera footage from 82 city cameras and from business and tourist cameras for additional information. After Shahzad's arrest, a surveillance video revealed images of him wearing a white baseball cap, walking in Shubert Alley moments after witnesses noticed the smoking SUV.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Domestic and international ties
An FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force took over the investigation as indications of a possible international connection increased. Shahzad had been listed on a U.S. government travel-lookout list since 1999, because he had brought large amounts of cash (approximately $82,500) in increments of about $20,000 into the U.S. between January 1999 and April 2008.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Domestic and international ties
Senior Obama administration officials said a flood of international and domestic clues suggested a plot involving more than one person. A review of Shahzad's phone call records revealed that he had received a series of calls from Pakistan directly before and after he purchased the Pathfinder. Investigators also examined international phone records showing calls "between some of the people who might be associated with this and folks overseas," according to a U.S. official. According to The Wall Street Journal, Shahzad received bomb-making training from the Pakistani Taliban. On May 6, The New York Times, quoting various American officials, said that evidence was mounting that Shahzad's alleged attempt was tied to the Taliban.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Domestic and international ties
There is no record of Shahzad having had a job since returning to the U.S., but he had an $1,150-per-month apartment on which he did not miss a payment, purchased materials estimated to cost $2,000 to build the bomb, paid for the $1,300 car-bomb vehicle in cash, bought an $800 plane ticket in cash, and bought a $400 gun.


2010 Times Square car bombing attempt, Investigation, Domestic and international ties
On May 13, investigators searched several locations in the northeastern U.S. They detained three Pakistani men. Two, cousins who were living at a house in Watertown, Massachusetts, were Brookline, Massachusetts, gas station attendant Aftab Ali Khan (27 years old at the time, who was set to fly from the U.S. to Pakistan the day he was arrested, and whose visa had expired six months prior) and Boston-area cabdriver Pir Kahn (43 at the time). The two denied knowing Shahzad, but a search of their home found an envelope with Shahzad's surname and phone number among Aftab Ali Khan's belongings.