PATTANI — Authorities have stepped up security in this southernmost province following four bombings on Saturday. No one was injured.
A motorcycle bomb went off in front of Sky Living Place in Muang district shortly after midnight on Friday. It was hidden in the fuel tank and detonated by a mobile phone. Security officials found fragments of steel rods, a mobile phone, a communication radio, small batteries and circuit parts at the scene.
The motorcycle was completely destroyed and police are investigating to whom it belonged.
Earlier, the other three smaller bombs went off five metres away. They had been planted near electric poles in front of and opposite the Nong Gift shop. Officials found similar parts there.
Authorities believed the smaller bombs had been detonated first to lure officials to the area so the motorcycle bomb could cause maximum damage. Luckily, authorities were well-prepared and managed to avoid the damage.
Since the bombings took place on the main road to Pattani's Muang district, security forces were set up to check all vehicles to prevent a repeat of such incidents.