Seven policemen and five people were injured yesterday when a powerful car bomb exploded around noon near a border patrol police operation base in Pattani's Muang district.
The blast happened at 12.30pm in front of the Meeting restaurant, next to the police base, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Security personnel rushed to seal off the area, allowing only concerned parties to pass through.
The violence came one day ahead of a planned forum to mark the third anniversary of the peace talks process between the Thai government and southern separatist groups. Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim, the Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks, is scheduled to address the forum on the progress of the peace process today at Prince Songkla University's Pattani campus.
An initial inspection of the scene suggested the bomb weighed about 100kg and was hidden in a car parked in front of the restaurant. The vehicle was reduced to mangled metal.
The explosion also shattered the windows of the restaurant and nearby shops and damaged a number of vehicles parked nearby. All the injured were sent to Pattani Hospital.
Damage: Bomb squad unit officers next to a damaged vehicle after the bomb blast. The car bomb detonated outside a police station, injuring seven police and five civilians.
The injured policemen were identified as Pol Cpl Surasak Sangnuan, Pol Cpl Pokpong Chumkham, Pol Cpl Mongkolchai Noonkliang, Pol Cpl Theerapong Kua-lor, Pol Cpl Piyapong Chumkhao, Pol Cpl Attapol Nimwoon and Pol L/Cpl Suradej Sumsombat. The injured civilians were Pornchanok Aksornchu, Sorpi Sohoh, Abdullorhim Sama-alee, Kusol Suwanno and Isma-ae Ayae.
Local authorities are investigating whether the incident is related to a shooting at a garage in which a car was stolen.
About 9.30am, Somsak Dussadeepiriya, 51, who owns the Phetkasem Yangyont garage in the same district, was seriously injured in the shooting by an unknown number of gunmen in front of the garage. The assailants fled in a white Honda Jazz they stole from the shop.
Authorities are trying to determine the group’s route in the hours leading up to the bombing.
Security in Yala and Narathiwat is being stepped up after the Pattani violence. Checkpoints have been set up on main roads and commercial areas in all districts.
All vehicles in the area are being thoroughly searched.