YALA: A member of a police team providing protection for teachers was killed and another wounded by a bomb explosion in Bannang Sata district on Tuesday morning.
The bomb went off on a road at Saikaew village in tambon Taling Chan and was reported to police around 8.45am.
It was planted under a traffic sign and was detonated when the security team arrived at the spot.
Two NCOs riding on a motocycle at the front of the patrol bore the brunt of the blast. Pol Sgt Maj Thotsaphon Sesarn and Pol L/C Thiammek Thongchat were rushed to a hospital, where Pol Sgt Maj Thotsaphon died shortly after.
Other members of the patrol were riding behind them on a pickup truck.
Maj Gen Songkriat Wathakul, commander of Provincial Police Region 9, led police and Bannang Sata district chief Tharawut Chuaykerd to the scene of the attack.
Debris, including electronic circuitry, and about 50 spent M16 cartridges were scattered over the area. Police said the improvised bomb weighed about 30kg and was detonated by radio.
A word in Yawi script was spray-painted in red on a traffic sign about 50 metres away.
Authorities believed the attack was aimed at creating unrest.
Debris at the scene of the bomb blast in Yala's Bannang Sata district. (Photo by Maluding Deeto)