An army major was wounded in bomb and shooting attacks by insurgents as he and three colleagues returned from a wedding ceremony in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat late Saturday morning.
Police and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officers were dispatched to Sungai Padi-Sakor Road in Ban Bukae village to investigate after the attacks were reported at around 10.40am, said Pol Lt Theerapong Pimpa, deputy investigation chief at the Sungai Padi station.
While the EOD officers were clearing the 30-metre stretch of road, a second bomb went off around 12.30pm, but caused no injuries.
The second blast was about 70 metres from the area where the first bomb had exploded in the morning. The first bomb left a crater about 50 centimeters deep and 80cm wide, while the second blast left a crater 40cm deep and 100cm wide, said police. Two cooking 20kg cooking gas cylinders had been used to contain the bombs.
Officers found more than 10 spent cartridges from M16 rifles scattered over the area following the attacks that left one military officer wounded.
Maj Saranchai Jitphet, attached to the 48th Ranger Regiment, had been attending a wedding in Ban Sakor village with three other soldiers and they were on their way back to their base in Cho Airong district when the attacks took place.
The bomb went off shortly before the pickup truck carrying the four soldiers drove past. Shortly afterward, armed men hiding in the trees by the roadside opened fire on the pickup.
One bullet hit Maj Saranchai in the left leg. Sgt Maj Kittisak Kaew-udom, the driver, sped off and took the injured officer to Sungai Padi Hospital.
Police believe the attacks were the work of southern insurgents wanting to target security officers.
