Attacks in Yala and Narathiwat injure four security officials

In Yala’s Yaha district, a team of Army paramilitary rangers was blasted by a roadside bomb while on a patrol to escort teachers. One ranger sustained a serious injury to his right leg but was in a safe condition after being treated at hospital. 

Police said Saudi Satapor, a suspected insurgent commander wanted over several security warrants, might have been behind this attack.

Seven other squad members escaped injury but had “ringing” ears. Crime-scene investigators said later a 5-kilogram home-made bomb was detonated, via electrical wires connected to a battery, by insurgents hiding about 100 metres away from the scene near Yaha-Baroh Road.

Insurgents launched gun attacks simultaneously on security officials in Narathiwat in three separate incidents at around 8pm on Thursday. An ambush on a ranger patrol squad wounded three men, while another group launched two M79 grenades on a police outpost and opened fire on the base with automatic weapons. The attackers at both scenes fled after security officials with backup forces returned fire.

Meanwhile, insurgents set off a roadside bomb by an armoured car carrying rangers beside a street about a kilometre away from both scenes, but no one inside was injured. The insurgents later opened fire on the vehicle, but fled when a backup force arrived and began hunting them down. 

A security blockade was later carried out at three villages in tambon Tanyong Limo. Two suspects were apprehended and questioned for their suspected role in the three attacks.