NARATHIWAT: Twelve soldiers and two civilians, one of them a four-year-old girl, were injured when a motorcycle bomb went off on a road in Sungai Kolok district on Friday.
After receiving a report at 7pm, a military-police team found a military truck with the driver's side destroyed and burst front tyres on the road lining an irrigation canal in tambon Pasemas.
Fourteen people were wounded, 12 of them soldiers. They were found on the road and in the bed of the truck. All were sent to the district hospital.
Pieces of the evidence found at the scene. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
An initial investigation found the improvised bomb was planted in a 25kg cooking gas cylinder. The impact of the blast created a hole 50-80cm deep on the road and sending debris as far as 70m.
The 12 soldiers were: SM1 Chatchai Chanchiao, Sgt Kowit Jittangsap, Sgt Aratsan Jaedo, Sgt Apisit Baisri, Cpl Nattapol Nawasuchinda, Cpl Naiyasit Chomchoei, Pvt Anat Makkaket, Pvt Ekapoj Thongpan, Pvt Sivadej Kangkano, Pvt Nivamik Ngaejaelee, Pvt Apilak Amnat and Pvt Nattapol Manratoh.
The two civilians were Abdul Ayi Hayisa Laemae and his four-year-old daughter, Pattaranan.
The victims sustained cuts from shrapnel on the body and limbs. All of them were reportedly safe on Saturday.
The soldiers were on a mission to replace those on duty at Ban Srayor and Ban Arakarn in Sungai Kolok municipality. About 1km from their base, an unknown number of men hiding in the roadside forest detonated the bomb buried on the roadside, hurting them and the father and daughter who were riding behind the truck on a motorcycle.
Police suspected insurgents who had warned about more unrest during the period between Ramadan and Hari Raya might have been responsible for the crime.