One arrested in fatal south train attack
One suspect was arrested yesterday for Tuesday's attack on a passenger train in Narathiwat, which killed a security volunteer and seriously injured another. Police identified the suspect as a brother of Amri Dueramae, a suspected insurgent shot by a secur
Pol Colonel Prayong Kotsakha, superintendent of Joh I Rong Police Station, said about 20 gunmen attacked the South-bound train, which was heading for Sungai Kolok from Surat Thani. The attack took place near Bukit station.
Security volunteer Suthipong Hiranpan was fatally shot and security volunteer Assasuwan Jehlateh was seriously injured. More than 100 soldiers and police combed the surrounding area.
Police found hundreds of spent bullet casings from M16 and AK-47 assault rifles. The second, third and fourth carriages of the eight-carriage train were hit.
The attackers are believed to be from the network of Linapideng Sama, a leading insurgent wanted by police for many serious crimes.
Police believed the RKK group under the leadership of Wae Ali Copter launched the attack in revenge for the killing of the suspected insurgent Amri outside the Joh I Rong train station on Saturday.
After the attack, security officials patrolled the train route in Joh I Rong subdistrict and Rangae and Rusoh districts. Despite the attack, passengers still lined up yesterday at Sungai Kolok station to take the train. They said such incidents were common.
Thanongsak Pongprasert, chief of the State Railway of Thailand’s Southern Centre, called on the government to increase patrols, especially at 12 risky spots between Hat Yai and Sungai Kolok. Also yesterday, Lt-Colonel Chalat Sriwichian, deputy commander of the 11th special task force unit, led police and security volunteers to guard 30-year-old Sakariya Salaeh in a crime re-enactment.
Sakariya was arrested last Friday on suspicion of making a bomb that was detonated outside the Hen Bakery in Yala, destroying several buildings on Na Nakhon Road.
Police also suspect him of parking a motorcycle bomb at a Mazda showroom on Ruammit Road in Yala in May 2010, causing heavy casualties. A CCTV camera recorded the attack.
