Police to seek warrants for southern blasts

Police to seek warrants for southern blasts

Bicycle bomb attack trend worries cops

PATTANI: Police say they know who was behind a string of bomb attacks that wounded nine people on Sunday and have also noticed a growing trend of attackers using bicycles to plant explosive devices.

Six explosions took place in Yaring, Yarang and Sai Buri districts on Sunday morning. The incidents have prompted officers to beef up security ahead of the Chinese New Year festival, which will take place later this week.

Pattani police chief Piyawat Chalermsri said yesterday an initial probe had identified which group was behind the blasts. The group has caused unrest before and some new members were found to have helped them this time, he said.

Officers can identify the suspects, but need to wait for the forensic examination before they can make any arrests, he added.

Pol Maj Gen Piyawat held a meeting with local police yesterday to gather information to hunt down the bombers.

A police source said CCTV cameras in Yarang district had captured three people believed to have been involved in the attacks.

Two of them were seen riding two road bikes wearing cycling outfits in tambon Yarang while another suspected perpetrator drove a motorcycle behind them.

The two cyclists, who covered their faces, dropped a bomb in a rubbish bin in Moo 3 and later parked their bikes by the wall of a rented house, the source said.

The bicycles were equipped with water bottles which police believe contained explosive devices. The two men were then picked up by another man on the motorcycle before they all fled.

According to the source, the first blast at the bin took place at 8.30am. The bicycle bombings, which happened 15 minutes later, caused two security officers, who came to inspect the first blast, to suffer from blast-induced tinnitus.

Similarly, roadside explosions in tambon Khao Tum of Yarang district were also found to have been caused by two bomb-rigged bicycles, the source said. No one was hurt by the blasts at this spot.

Meanwhile, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has instructed officers to apprehend the bombers quickly to restore public confidence.

Police deputy spokesman Kritsana Pattanacharoen said yesterday the police chief also demanded security be beefed up in community areas and tourist destinations in the far South. Checkpoints will be set up on main and minor roads to check vehicles and apprehend targeted suspects, Pol Col Kritsana said.

Meanwhile, a pipe bomb was found at an intersection on Sai Buri road in tambon Taluban of Pattani's Sai Buri district yesterday morning. It was successfully defused. Officers believe the bomb may have been put there on Sunday, when a string of blasts took place, but it malfunctioned.

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