NARATHIWAT: Police in Sungai Padi district seized and destroyed four pipe bombs which were thrown away by two teenagers who broke through a security checkpoint and escaped on Saturday, police said.
The checkpoint was being manned by six policemen from tambon Sako police station led by Pol Capt Jirawut Iadtem, when the two teenagers drove past at about 4.30pm on a motorcycle without stopping for a search.
The policemen chased the two on a pick-up truck and a motorcycle. The two threw away a plastic bag while passing through Bangoyae village, heading toward the Sungai Kolok river bordering Malaysia. At To Or village in tambon Kayukhla of Waeng district, they abandoned the motorcycle and swam across the river to Malaysia.
The police searched the motorcycle and found only a digital watch hidden under the seat. The vehicle had run out of petrol.
The police later retrieved the plastic bag thrown away by the two at Bangoyae village and found four pipe bombs in it. The bombs were subsequently defused and destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team.
In a vehicle registration check on Sunday morning, the police found the motorcycle belonged to Muhammadmuslem Makoseng, 23, of tambon Paluru in Sungai Padi district.
Mr Muhammadmuslem was invited for questioning. He said a friend came to see him on Saturday and asked to borrow his motorcycle. The friend's name and surname were withheld by police pending further investigation.
The police released Mr Muhammadmuslem after collecting his fingerprints and samples for a DNA test.
