Five police officers were injured in a bomb attack carried out by suspected insurgents in Mayo district of Pattani province on Friday, just hours after a blast in Yala that wounded six officers.
The Pattani incident occurred at 11.30am in Khuan Yi Village Moo 3, of tambon Pador as a patrol team from Pattani Task Force 31 was returning from security checkpoint duty in the area.
The explosion left five police officers wounded:
- Pol Sgt Anuchit Boonchuay sustained multiple shrapnel wounds but remained conscious;
- Pol Sgt Boonyawat Kueaseng suffered eye injuries from shrapnel;
- Pol Sgt Wisitphon Sridi suffered chest tightness;
- Pol Sgt Apisit Chumee experienced chest discomfort and ringing in the ears;
- Pol Sgt Sumit Yusor also complained of chest tightness.
All were rushed to Mayo Hospital for treatment.
Security forces subsequently secured the area, inspected the blast site and collected evidence to identify and arrest those responsible.
Authorities believed the attack was intended to create fear and unrest in the southern border province.
Also on Friday, a suspected explosive device detonated while officers were inspecting it beneath a patrol vehicle in Waeng district of Narathiwat province. No injuries were reported. (Story continues below)
Officers discovered the suspicious object under a patrol car belonging to the Buketa police station, which had been parked in front of the Buketa mosque in Waeng district, just before 1pm.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and nearby routes before conducting a detailed inspection.
Prior to the incident, local residents reported seeing two youths behaving suspiciously and appearing to attach an object or device to the police vehicle before fleeing behind the mosque. They subsequently alerted police.
While officers were examining the device, it exploded, causing vibrations in the surrounding area. Initial checks found no casualties or significant damage.
Authorities said the incident might have been carried out by insurgents wanting to incite unrest in the strife-torn province.
Earlier on the same day, six border patrol police officers on teacher protection duty were injured, two of them seriously, when a roadside bomb exploded in Than To district of Yala on Friday morning.
The attack occurred at 8.10am when an unknown number of attackers detonated an improvised explosive device targeting the security patrol from Border Patrol Police Company 442.
