 Terrorists Insurgents launched a series of coordinated arson and bomb attacks in southern Thailand late on Tuesday, mostly targeting automatic teller machines at banks. In two other attacks, one in Pattani province killed a teacher, and the other in Narathiwat province killed two Army paramilitary rangers and injured five others.
Authorities said 34 locations were attacked, damaging or gutting a large number of ATMs belonging to various private and government banks or those at convenience stores.
Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog said the attacks marked the anniversaries of two insurgent groups - Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which was established on October 10, and Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO) on October 11.
The death of Waena Munoh, a teacher, in the Pattani attack on Tuesday night, brought the death toll of teachers to 165. The victim was sleeping in her living quarters guarded by soldiers when she was hit by bullets shot into the complex by attacking terrorists insurgents. They had stolen two fire trucks and replaced the water with fuel, and were preparing to spray the entire living quarter with it before setting it on fire.In the Narathiwat bomb attack yesterday morning, a three-vehicle convoy was hit by a roadside bomb while on a patrol. The explosion hit the middle vehicle killing one ranger instantly; a second was pronounced dead at the hospital, while five others were injured. Fourteen teenage men at a nearby teashop have been detained for questioning.
National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattana-thabutr said the attacks were likely committed by those opposed to the ongoing peace process between Thailand and the BRN. He said there might be more attacks in the next few days, then they would cease - but he did not explain why.In another attack, a roadside bomb hit a vehicle belonging to a ranger company, causing minor injuries to the crew and slight damage to the vehicle. |