Fierce gunfight leaves 3 attackers dead

Fierce gunfight leaves 3 attackers dead

PATTANI — Three suspected militants were killed and four police officers injured after a fierce 15-minute gunfight in Thung Yang Daeng district on Thursday night.

A police booth at Moo 5 village in Nam Dam subdistrict burns fiercely as officers trapped inside fight off an attack by suspected insurgents. The four officers were wounded in the battle in which three attackers were killed. Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat

The fight erupted after an unknown number of armed militants opened fired at a police booth at Moo 5 village in Nam Dam subdistrict at about 8pm. 

At least four police manning the checkpoint booth exchanged fire with the attackers. A fire broke out inside the facility during the fierce gun battle. 

The insurgents reportedly blocked a section of Highway No 4075 (Thung Yang Daeng-Kapor) with a felled tree and used metal spikes along with suspected explosive devices to hinder security reinforcements from joining the battle. 

A bomb exploded near a convoy of armoured vehicles and soldiers of Pattani Task Force 25 which was racing to the police booth to back up the beseiged officers. There were no reports of injuries or damage from the blast.   

Security officers in the area were told to be on high alert for a possible attack about 10 minutes before the assault began.    

The injured police officers were named as Pol L/Cpl Chalerm Petchyod, Pol Cpl Chatchai Promthong, Pol L/Cpl Wuthichai Wuthisit and Pol L/Cpl Anupong Sawasdee. The first two officers sustained gunshot wounds while the others suffered burns.

Authorities found three bodies of militants at the scene. Their identities are not yet known.

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