Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thailand’s most controversial political figures, was shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt on Friday morning, raising new fears that the tensions in the country could again flare into violence.

Mr Sondhi, the most prominent leader of the yellow-shirted protesters who closed down the airport last year, was shot in his car as he was going to work. The People’s Alliance for Democracy said that his life was not in danger although he was being treated in hospital.