Southern Thailand shaken by 3 bombings
Bombings have occurred in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces in Thailand's southernmost region, where the majority of the population is Muslim.
On July 21, a group of six Thai soldiers were patrolling on three motorbikes in Narathiwat province when they were ambushed by a bomb squad, injuring two soldiers. Preliminary investigations showed that the 5kg bomb was buried under a milestone on the side of the road. Thai authorities have cordoned off the scene and increased their forces to search for the perpetrators.
The scene of a bombing in the far south of Thailand (Photo: KT)
On the evening of July 20, in Narathiwat, a bomb attack targeted a patrol force traveling in an armored vehicle, injuring seven soldiers. Three consecutive bombings in Narathiwat show that the rebel forces here had carefully prepared for these bombings.
Earlier that morning, a bomb exploded in a five-story building in Narathiwat province. The bomb, weighing about 50kg, was planted in a car and exploded near a densely populated area. Thai security forces had cut off all telecommunications signals in Sungai Kolok district, where the explosion occurred, to avoid a double remote-controlled bombing, but this time, the rebels organized bombings at different locations in Narathiwat province.
On July 21, Thai security officials said they had just recovered image data from security cameras related to the high-rise bombing to serve the investigation. Thai security also determined that the car used to detonate the bomb was a car that had been stolen last year and that the bombers had modified the car to be able to carry the bomb in the trunk. Thai security forces were put on high alert, with many checkpoints set up on important routes in the area.
The three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala are predominantly Muslim. Since 2004, separatist and anti-government forces have carried out hundreds of bombings and attacks on civilians and government officials, killing more than 5,000 people and injuring tens of thousands./.
According to VOV.vn - DT
