Thai rescue workers carry an injured person after a bomb exploded outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok late on Monday, killing at least 22 people and wounding scores more. AFP

At least 22 people, including three Chinese citizens, were killed on Monday when a bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded outside a shrine in the Thai capital, police said.

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

Over 120 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.