At least four local administrative offices and two mobile phone signal towers were torched in four districts of Pattani last night.
Soldiers inspect the wreckage of an armour-plated pickup truck after it washit in abombattack in Narathiwat’s Rueso district yesterday.Two officers were killed and three seriously woundedin the blast. WAEDAOHARAI
The arsons were reported almost simultaneously in four districts of Mae Lan, Yarang, Mayo, and Nong Chick about 7pm.
Authorities were verifying if there were any casualties at press time, but at least one suspected militant was reportedly shot and wounded by a defence volunteer.
In Yarang district, suspected militants set ablaze Prachan Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) and Yarang municipality office. The attackers also tried to set fire to the Golam TAO, but defence volunteers opened fire at the group, injuring one insurgent. The group later retreated.
In Nong Chik, the Datoh TAO and Kolotanyong municipality office were torched.
In Mayo, Sakobon TAO was heavily damaged, while the Pador and Sakotai TAO offices were partially burnt. Militants also set fire to car tyres at several spots on Yarang-Mayo Road.
In Mae Lan, two Dtac mobile phone signal towers were torched. Firefighters were called in and managed to put out the blazes.
Earlier, a roadside bomb attack killed two soldiers and injured three others while they were patrolling in an armoured pickup truck in Narathiwat.
The explosion, detonated by insurgent suspects hiding in nearby bushland, blew the vehicle off the road as it was about to cross a bridge in Ban Uyi.
Driver Sgt Maj 1st Class Piyaphong Imphram and Pvt Krittikon Muelin were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
The three other soldiers riding in the vehicle, including group leader Lt Sukrit Kanchanaklot, sustained serious injuries.
Investigators said the explosion came from an improvised bomb which had been stuffed inside a 90-kilogramme gas container.
The device was buried under the road on the approach to the bridge.
Meanwhile, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabut said government delegates will raise the results of a recent opinion poll when they next meet Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group leaders.
The poll found the majority of far South residents do not welcome the separatist group's five-point list of demands which were posted on YouTube late last month.