Arson, bomb attacks at 17 spots in South

A big fire at a Bang Chak petrol station in Pattani's Nong Chik district early Wednesday morning - one of the many coordinated attacks by southern insurgents in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. (Photo: Abdullah Benjakat)
A big fire at a Boom Chak petrol station in Pattani’s Nong Chik district earlier Wednesday morning – one of the many coordinated episodes by southern insurgents in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. (Photo: Abdullah Benjakat)

Insurgents launched coordinated bomb and arson attacks on convenience stores and petrol stations in 17 places within three southern boundary provinces, causing considerable damage.

The attacks in Yala, Narathiwat plus Pattani began past due on Tuesday night and continued in to the early  hours of Wednesday morning. Three people were reported to have been injured.

They were targeted at disrupting the region’s economy, according to Internal Security Operations Order (Isoc) Region four.  

Maj Gen Pramote Prom-in, deputy movie director of Isoc Region 4, said seventeen locations were assaulted at almost the same time, updating earlier reviews that 11 areas were attacked.

There were two attacks in Pattani, six in Yala and nine in Narathiwat, he said.

The worst damage has been caused to a Bang Chak petrol place in Pattani’s Nong Chick, which was burnt down.

He said 4th Army commander Lt Gen Kriangkrai Srirak had ordered troops to provide security to get explosive ordnance convenience teams working at the scenes.

– Yala –

The episodes started In Yala province, when a bomb exploded inside a 7-Eleven shop at a PTT gas station in Yaha district.

Pol Capt Sarayut Kochawong, an detective at Yala law enforcement station, said that regarding 11. 50pm a person wearing a face mask plus Muslim woman’s clothes walked into the store and placed a black bag within the counter. He informed the staff plus customers to get out from the store if they did not want to die.

They all fled the store. About  a couple of minutes later an explosive device inside the bag went off. The exploding market caused some damage to the store but caused no casualties.

In Bannang Sata district, about midnight, four men went past a 7-Eleven store on two motorcycles and put an incendiary bomb at the store, from Moo 2 community in tambon Bannang Sata. The fireplace caused little harm.

Comparable time, a bomb went off  in a Mini Big D store at Moo 2 of tambon Kayu Boko, Raman district, and an additional at a mobille phone signal tower on Moo 1 community. The two bombs triggered minor damage.

Also in Yala, a bomb went off at a 7-Eleven store on Moo 4 in tambon Po Seng of Muang region. A subsequent open fire caused little harm to the store.

– Narathiwat –

In surrounding Narathiwat province, a fireplace was started at a 7-Eleven store at the PTT petrol train station at Moo 4 in tambon Bacho, Bacho district, about 12. 45am. Your local store was extensively damaged. A Myanmar shipping man at the shop was injured plus admitted to Bacho Hospital.

In Si Sakhon district, a fire triggered extensive damage to a 7-Elevan store in a PTT petrol train station in Si Sakhon Municipality. A young man, Abukori Kadir, fourteen, was burned to both legs and a girl, Wilaiwan Kaewsuk, twenty three, suffered chest pain.

The fire at a petrol station within Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat. (Video supplied by Abdullah Benjakat)

In Sungai Kolok district, there was a fireplace at a 7-Eleven store at a PTT gas station in Tambon Pasemat Municipality. The particular fire spread in order to two fuel pumping systems but was quickly put out. The store was extensively damaged.

Arsonists also struck at a 7-Eleven store and a Mini Big C store at Moo 1 community in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat, causing some deterioration.

– Pattani instruction

In Pattani state, a bomb skyrocketed about 12. 20am, followed by a fire, in the Bang Chak petrol station at Moo 8 village within tambon Bo Thong of Nong Chik district on the Cap Yai-bound side of Highway 43. The fire spread to a Tiny Big C shop inside the petrol station, causing heavy harm.

Several fire trucks have been dispatched to the location. They were able to bring the fire under control for two hours. A great oil truck and even two trailer-trucks stopped at the petrol network also caught fire flames and suffered key damage.

About 30 minutes following midnight, a fire causd major damage in a Mini Big M store at Moo 5 village within tambon Nam Dam of Thung Yang Daeng district.  

Police were investigating the attacks, which they says were obviously coordinated.

The destroyed Mini Big H store in Cho Airong district, Narathiwat. (Photo: Waedao Harai)