Police round up 22 in hunt for Yala bombers

Three of them had confessed to the bombings of May 14-16, commander of the 41st Ranger Regiment Task Force reported yesterday. The bombings led to 18 injuries and wide property damage.

Colonel Isara Janthakayom said the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 and the Southern Border Province Police Bureau had met six times |to hunt for the culprits based on evidence, particularly security-camera footage. 

During the investigation, a pickup truck hijacking occurred in Yaha district and the authorities retrieved the vehicle on May 31, he said. On Tuesday, security officers searched nine targeted locations in the Nakhon Yala Municipality and brought in for questioning 22 suspects for both the truck hijacking and bombings, he added. Three suspects had confessed to their involvement in the May 14-16 bombings, he said.

Isara said the questioning of the suspects would be carried out speedily so that those who are innocent could be quickly released. He said relatives of the suspects were informed about the procedure.

Isara revealed that among the 22 suspects was 27-year-old Abdul-firid Sakoh – wanted for the May 14-16 bombings and the Yaha truck hijacking |– and 22-year-old Sukri Niloh, who was sought under a national security warrant.