NARATHIWAT — A police officer was seriously wounded in an attack by motorcycle gunmen on a police post in Rangae district of this strife-torn southern province.
The shooting took place at the Bukaesamee security post in tambon Tanyongmas in Rangae district on Friday afternoon in full view of passers-by, said police.
Four men on board two motorcycles with no licence plates passed the post and two of them, who were riding pillion, suddenly fired eight shots at Pol L/C Wichitsak Phetcharat, who was standing duty. One shot hit the officer in the right arm. The attackers fled.
The injured officer and four colleagues who were inside the post did not return fire for fear stray bullets might hit people riding motorcycles nearby. Pol L/C Wichit was seriously wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital.
Pol Col Pakdi Preechachon, chief of the Rangae police, led a team of police and soldiers to inspect the scene. Eight spent 9mm bullets were found scattered around the area.
Police and soldiers quickly set up checkpoints to block the attackers' escape route but it was too late. They were believed to have already fled along the road toward tambon Dusongyor.
Footage from a closed-circuit camera captured the four attackers, with the two drivers wearing full-face crash helmets. One of the gunmen wore an Islamic tunic and his face was not covered.
Footage from a closed-circuit television camera captures a pillion rider (right), wearing an Islamic tunic, firing shots at a police post while a local resident passes by on a motorcycle. (Photo by Waedao Harai)