A Chinese New Year’s party was marred yesterday when an unknown assailant lobbed a grenade into the middle of the festivities, injuring 14 people, including seven children.

The grenade landed 10 metres from the dance floor, near where Chhin Dy, 44, and his 36-year-old wife, Mai Lai, had put up rented speakers and laid out a spread of food.

No one was killed during the inexplicable attack, for which police have not identified a suspect, though four sustained serious injuries. All of the victims are recovering in the Battambang provincial hospital.

“If the suspect bombed the dancing space, I think there might be more victims,” said Chhem Kimhong, Battambang’s Kamrieng district police chief said.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, we can conclude that the suspect bombed the party out of some sort of re­­venge. Provincial and district police are investigating.”

The couple that planned the party owns farmland in the district’s Ta Krei commune.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lieng Sarith at [email protected]