'Thaksin is Dead' Reports Spread in Social Media Hoax Phuket UPDATE

REPORTS of the death in Dubai of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appear to be an elaborate hoax timed to April Fool's Day. He tweeted late in the day to say he was alive: ''I am doing fine.''



Original Report

PHUKET: Social media throughout Thailand is filling today with reports that Thaksin Shinawatra has been killed in a high-speed car crash on a highway in Dubai.



According to initial as yet unconfirmed reports, the self-exiled former Thai Prime Minister was being driven in a black limousine when the driver lost control.



The car flipped at high speed, according to reports now spreading across all social networks in Thailand.



No official confirmation has been given. Because it is April 1, the potential always exists for an elaborate hoax.



However, photographs purportedly taken at the scene in Dubai show severe wreckage of a black limousine.



Thaksin Shinawatra is the brother of Thailand's present Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. REPORTS of the death in Dubai of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appear to be an elaborate hoax timed to April Fool's Day. He tweeted late in the day to say he was alive: ''I am doing fine.''PHUKET: Social media throughout Thailand is filling today with reports that Thaksin Shinawatra has been killed in a high-speed car crash on a highway in Dubai.According to initial as yet unconfirmed reports, the self-exiled former Thai Prime Minister was being driven in a black limousine when the driver lost control.The car flipped at high speed, according to reports now spreading across all social networks in Thailand.No official confirmation has been given. Because it is April 1, the potential always exists for an elaborate hoax.However, photographs purportedly taken at the scene in Dubai show severe wreckage of a black limousine.Thaksin Shinawatra is the brother of Thailand's present Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Comments Comments have been disabled for this article.

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