BANGKOK — A large ********* rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, ******* at least three people and injuring 25 others, ****** said.

The cause of Monday’s *********, which sounded like a loud thunderclap to people living nearby, was not immediately known. ****** said the ******* included some foreigners.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said he saw one body and body parts. A reporter for the television station Thai PBS said he counted 12 bodies at the scene.

The ********* took place at the Rajprasong intersection, which was the centre of many contentious political demonstrations in recent years. It appeared to have occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark also popular with Thais.

Thailand’s capital has been relatively peaceful since a military **** ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometime violent political ******** against the previous government. However, there has been some tension in recent months as the ruling junta has made clear it may not hold elections until 2017 and wants a constitution that will allow some type of ********* rule to take the place of an elected government.

Car bombs are almost unknown in Bangkok, but have been used in southern Thailand, where a ****** separatist insurgency has been flaring for several years.