Six killed in latest attacks in South

DESPITE beefed up security, 10 days before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, suspected insurgents launched bomb and arson attacks at eight locations in Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat, Sadao in Songkhla and Yala’s Than To district on Friday night and early yesterday. The attacks left six people dead, 11 injured and significant property damage. 

Police security camera footage showed two suspects on a motorcycle with the pillion rider hurling a pipe bomb into a Narathiwat shop on Friday at 6.51pm. They suspected the Songkhla attacks may have been carried out by the same people who were behind the May 6, 2014 Hat Yai bombings that injured eight people. 

The Sungai Kolok attacks may have involved insurgents behind bomb attacks in same district on May 11, 2014. 

The latest attacks in the deep South raised concerns about its negative impact on the economy.

Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 Front Command spokesman Colonel Pramote Prom-in reported yesterday that Sungai Kolok saw three explosive attacks on Friday evening. At one site eight people were injured. Fires at three shops in the district at 1am yesterday resulted in three deaths. 

In Padang Besar in Sadao, a motorcycle bomb exploded on Friday night in front of a karaoke bar, which led to three deaths and left three injured, he said. 

In Than To, a home-made bomb exploded and damaged eight power poles, causing a blackout in many areas early yesterday, he added. 

These activities were carried out by people who had a perverted religious belief that launching attacks in the holy month would gain them multiplied merit, Pramote said, adding that the leaders of eight religious organisations in the region had condemned all kinds of violence.

Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr offered condolences to the families of the deceased as well as those injured or affected by the attacks. He instructed Isoc Region 4 Front Command to speedily resolve the situation, provide aid to the affected and beef up security in the region, Pramote said. 

Fourth Army Region Commander Lt-General Prakan Cholayuth also urged officers on duty to inform local entertainment business operators who were at risk to install security systems and watch out for suspicious items, he said.

 

Aid for affected residents 

Meanwhile, Maj-General Anurut Kritsanakaraket, commander of the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre, and his team yesterday inspected sites which were attacked in Sungai Kolok and urged police to quickly solve the case based on evidence to restore public confidence. 

Sungai Kolok superintendent Pol Colonel Kong-at Suwankham said the attacks in Sungai Kolok were possibly carried out by the same group that launched bombings last May. Sungai Kolok officials also set up tents to provide aid to the affected residents. Some 36 people have filed requests for aid following damage to their property and injuries. 

In Sadao, Provincial Police Region 9 chief Pol Lt-General Montri Potranan inspected the Padang Besar motorcycle bomb scene along with forensic officers and the bomb squad yesterday, as police interviewed injured victims and checked security camera footage for clues. 

Pol Lt-General Suchart Theerasawat, a police inspector-general, joined yesterday’s meeting with Songkhla police chief Pol Maj-General Ampon Buarubporn and investigators over the Padang Besar bombing. They were told that a man aged 25-30 had parked a motorbike in front of the bar and the bike – reportedly stolen from Pattani’s Mae Lan district in 2014 according to one source – had previously been used as a getaway vehicle in the Hat Yai bombing attack last May. 

They also heard that 20 homes in Padang Besar municipality, plus five cars and four motorcycles were damaged by the blast and 13 property owners had filed for assistance. 

Sadao district chief Thaweewut Sangsiri said the motorcycle bomb, which resulted in the death of bar workers Nujarin Nanchiangkreu, 28, and Aron Thammakhan, 43, and bar owner Nanthisa Anam, 40 – would affect the economy and tourism in the border area. People may put off visits for a while, so he contacted officials to boost security.

An informed source said the Padang Besar incident was the second attack after bombings on December 22, 2013 left dozens injured.