High alert in deep South for vehicle bombs
National security agencies in the deep South have been put on alert for four pickup trucks and five Honda Wave motorcycles that had been stolen and might be used as vehicle bombs in the restive region during the last 10 days of the Islamic holy month of R
A source at a national security agency revealed Tuesday that security measures were beefed up following an intelligence alert that such car/motorcycle bombs might target economic zones or Thai Buddhist communities in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla’s four districts including Hat Yai and Sadao between June 27 and July 6.
“The pick-up truck that tops the watch list is an Isuzu D-max silver-bronze-coloured truck carrying the licence plate Bor Ror 7934 Songkhla, which was stolen from Narathiwat's Reu So district after the truck owner Surachai Nareumalinee was shot dead on June 12, 2013. Another truck on the list is a grey Mitsubishi carrying the licence plate Bor Chor 1306 Pattani, which was stolen from Narathiwat's Muang district on January 25, 2010. We are also looking out for a white Toyota Vigo truck carrying the licence plate Tor Hor 1093 Bangkok that was carjacked on April 22, 2012, and another grey Toyota Vigo truck carrying the licence plate Sor Yor 6602 Bangkok, after its owner Suchat Suwanchaley was shot and the gunman rode away with the truck on June 21, 2012,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the source said that CCTV footage had identified the suspect responsible for the car bomb at Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district. The suspect was identified as alleged insurgent operative Sukiman Kubaru who was believed to have now fled to a neighbouring country.
