Thai rescue workers carry an injured person after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on Monday, killing at least 19 people and wounding scores more. AFP

At least 19 people, including three Chinese citizens, were killed on Monday when a bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded outside a shrine in the Thai capital.

The Chinese embassy in Thailand has confirmed with Thai police that another 15 Chinese citizens were among the injured.

Over 110 people, including more than 10 Chinese, were in Police General Hospital, according to a Global Times journalist based in Thailand.

The explosives were planted and aimed at taking lives, national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said.

The injured, including Thais, Chinese nationals and Filipinos, were taken to nearby hospitals, according to the police.

The Chinese embassy in Thailand was trying to confirm the exact number of Chinese citizens killed or injured, while the consulate general was leading a contingency team that went to hospitals to make sure injured Chinese were properly treated.

The embassy sent translators to the hospitals to help with communication.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which occurred just outside the Erawan shrine at a major intersection.

A China Central Television reporter quoted police in Bangkok as saying that TNT was used in the bomb, and that a bomb disposal unit had dismantled two suspected explosive devices.

"The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district," Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said.

The Erawan shrine is a major attraction in Thailand, especially for visitors from East Asia.

"I had just paid tribute to the Buddha. I was washing my hands, and suddenly I heard a huge explosion, and when I turned, four people were all lying on the ground," Gu Xinlun, a Chinese tourist who arrived in Bangkok on Monday, told China Daily.

He said the blast killed one of his friends.

Reuters, Xinhua and AP contributed to this story.

zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn