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| Southeast Asia |
| 22 bombs explode in Thailand, killing 2 |
| 2006-08-31 |
| Nearly two dozen bombs exploded almost simultaneously Thursday inside commercial banks in southern Thailand, killing two people in a region bloodied by a Muslim insurgency, police said. The homemade bombs, which were triggered by mobile phone signals, were placed in garbage bins, at newspaper stands and near seats where customers wait for service in the banks in Yala province, said Maj. Gen. Paithoon Choochaiya who heads the provincial police. At least 28 people were injured. Authorities said two suspects were detained. A review of close-circuit video showed that some of the explosives were planted by women, police said. Some of the apparently small devices were hidden in women's handbags or inside books carried by teenagers in school uniforms, said Lt. Gen. Ongkorn Thongprasom, the army chief in the south. "We received some intelligence reports, but we did not anticipate it would happen inside banks, especially on the last day of the month. We don't believe they are that cruel," Ongkorn said. Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit said authorities had learned the rebels were planning a major attack Thursday to coincide with the founding day of Bersatu, believed to be an umbrella group for Thailand's rebel groups. "I ordered them (authorities) to take precautions and prevention but this incident still occurred," he said. The bombs were set off in 22 of Yala's 30 bank branches, both in the provincial capital and outlying districts. "It's scary. We can't estimate the damage yet," said Pridiyathorn Devakula, head of the Bank of Thailand, the country's central bank. The Islamic Bank of Thailand was among those attacked, according to reporters at the scene. The bank, set up in five southern provinces by the government, was created according to Muslim law, which prohibits interest. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Time for some serious Moose hunting. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-08-31 10:54 |
| #1 The homemade bombs, which were triggered by mobile phone signals... But we shouldn't be concerned when Muslims go on multi-state shopping sprees picking up very specific models of cell phones. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-08-31 09:19 |