NARATHIWAT : Six people were injured in a bomb blast at a hotel in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok municipality yesterday as police named two guests as suspects.
DAMAGE DONE: Police officers examine the site of an explosion on the third floor of the Asia Hotel in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district yesterday. The explosion injured six.
The blast took place on the third floor of the Asia Hotel on Charoen Khet Road about 11am. None of the injured suffered life-threatening wounds.
Sulaiman Yapa and Tameesi Jeyor, both 19, from tambon Tamong of Narathiwat's Sukhirin district, were taken to Sungai Kolok police station for questioning after the blast.
Police said the pair told them they checked in to room 306 at the hotel on Friday and stayed overnight.
They said they had to stay there because there was no evening bus to Sukhirin district, police said.
The suspects told police they heard the blast after leaving the hotel but they took no interest in it as they were in a hurry to catch a bus.
Both suspects were discharged after police took their fingerprints and DNA samples.
Narathiwat police superintendent Satan Wamasingh said the two suspects were seen on surveillance camera footage hurrying out of the hotel before the blast.
Police also questioned another four hotel guests who had checked in to rooms close to the blast to determine if there were any links with Mr Sulaiman.
They all denied any involvement in the bombing. police said.
The blast shattered the walls of rooms 306 and 307 and the debris was strewn on the floor.
Police also recovered parts of improvised explosives believed to have been stuffed in a metal box weighing 5-10kg.
The bomb is believed to have been detonated by a mobile phone signal.
The six injured people were identified as Bancha Wongnak, Patsayamas Suwannachat, Supranee Somma, Sunisa Suaysa-ard, Samseeya U-seng and a woman known only as Jinda. All have been admitted at Sungai Kolok Hospital.
Hotel worker Amphan Wongteerarit told police there were many guests and staff inside the hotel when the blast took place.
Mrs Amphan said the explosion occurred about 10 minutes after the suspects left.
Officers have not yet established whether the attack was intentional. The perpetrators may have planned to hand over the bomb to others and the device could have detonated by accident, police said.
Narathiwat chamber of commerce chairman Saran Wangsattabongkot said he did not think the blast would impact tourism.
No booking cancellations had been reported, he said.
In Narathiwat's Rueso district, village defence volunteer Mayunai Waebeusa, 42, was shot dead in front of his house in tambon Sawor at about 3pm yesterday.
According to the investigation, a pickup truck pulled over at Mayunai's house and two of the four men in the vehicle called the victim to come out.
When Mayunai showed up, one of the men dragged him out of the house.
He was then shot at point-blank range with an M16 rifle.
The perpetrators also stole an 11mm handgun, an AK-47 assault rifle and a bulletproof vest from the victim, police said.
In Mayo district of Pattani, 71 year old Salae Kader was shot dead while walking out of Ban Napae mosque in tambon Panan late on Friday night.
Police are investigating.