(Thailand, 29th) A series of bomb explosions and shooting incidents occurred within 24 hours in Pattani Province, southern Thailand. A local defense volunteer was shot dead, while a family of four was injured. Thai security authorities preliminarily believe that both attacks may be linked to local armed separatist groups.
According to Thai headline news, at around 8pm on Friday (26th), a roadside bomb exploded near an Islamic religious school in Thung Yang Daeng district, Pattani, injuring a family of four, including a couple and two boys aged two years and eight months respectively.
Upon receiving the report, police, military, and relevant units rushed to the scene and found that the front of a silver pickup truck was seriously damaged, with bomb fragments and vehicle parts scattered around.
Upon receiving the report, police, military, and relevant units rushed to the scene and found that the front of a silver pickup truck was seriously damaged, with bomb fragments and vehicle parts scattered around.
The four injured were taken to hospital by the public. They all suffered from tinnitus and chest tightness caused by blast impact, but fortunately none were hit by shrapnel and their conditions are stable.
According to police investigations, the family was driving when the incident happened. The suspect remotely detonated a pre-buried explosive device under the road as the vehicle passed by. The powerful blast hit the engine area, causing the vehicle to be blown off the ground and slide for about 50 meters before stopping.
Bomb disposal and forensic personnel returned to the scene yesterday (27th) for investigation and preliminarily confirmed that the device was a homemade bomb weighing about 15 kg with no shrapnel design, buried under the road surface. The explosion left a crater about one meter deep, with soil and road fragments even flying to residential homes about 100 meters away.
Police have collected bomb debris, DNA samples, and other forensic evidence to track down those involved.
Security authorities believe the original target may have been military or police vehicles, with the family’s vehicle mistakenly identified as an official vehicle before the bomb was detonated.
Security authorities believe the original target may have been military or police vehicles, with the family’s vehicle mistakenly identified as an official vehicle before the bomb was detonated.
Authorities believe the aim of the attacks is to incite public fear and undermine confidence in local security. Patrols and vigilance have been increased in key areas.
The day after the bombing, at around 7:30am yesterday (27th), a shooting occurred in Yarang District, Pattani. A local defense volunteer was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle and shot at close range, dying at the scene, after sending his child to an Islamic school and heading home.
Police arrived to find the deceased lying near a village intersection, with a red motorcycle parked nearby. Preliminary forensics showed multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and head, with at least five 9mm pistol shell casings found at the scene, all collected as evidence.
Investigations revealed that the two suspects were riding a blue-black Honda Wave motorcycle. The rider wore a purple long-sleeve shirt and khaki long pants with a helmet, while the pillion shooter disguised himself as a woman, apparently to conceal his identity.
After approaching the victim, the shooter fired several shots at close range and then the pair quickly fled the scene.
After approaching the victim, the shooter fired several shots at close range and then the pair quickly fled the scene.
Police and related personnel surveyed the scene, collected shell casings and other evidence, and reviewed CCTV footage nearby in an effort to track down the shooters' identities.
Security authorities pointed out that the modus operandi in both cases matches patterns commonly used by local armed separatist groups, and do not rule out that both were part of the same type of violent attack aimed at sustaining terror and undermining local security.
However, police emphasized that other motives for the crimes have not been ruled out and the cases are still under investigation.