3 gunned down in Songkhla
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Three people were shot dead and seven wounded when four assailants armed with M16 rifles on two motorcycles fired into a grocery store in Songkhla's Thepa district on Saturday evening, police said yesterday.
The three were killed instantly. Three of the seven wounded were in serious condition, police said.
The incident took place at 6.40pm. The assailants left behind eight leaflets with the message that they carried out the attack in revenge for a victim who was mistakenly gunned down by police in Narathiwat’s Bajoh district on October 23. Police found 20 M16 cartridges at the scene.
Four people have been released from hospital – Ekapol Petchamrat, Jirasak Chaisri, Arom Chantarat and Siriwan Chantarat. Uthai Kimseng and Thawil Petchamrat have been sent to Songkhla hopsital, while Wimol Chankaew was admitted to Hat Yai hospital.
Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 front command spokesman Colonel Pramot Prom-in said the army chief had expressed profound sadness to the families of those who lost their lives and the wounded, who would be given full compensation and assistance.
ISOC has vowed to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
The Fourth Army Region commander has ordered a security boost in all vulnerable areas, especially Buddhist communities. Locals have been urged to provide any leads for police by calling hotline 1341 at any time of the day or night so that the insurgents responsible for the attack could be tracked down.
Pramot called on all sectors of society to condemn the attack and stage collective efforts to end the continuing violence in the deep South.
The incident came hot on the heels of bomb attacks at four restaurants and bars in Pattani’s Muang district on Friday evening, which killed one waitress and injured two others.
