Narathiwat: Four detonated bombs which were used in an arson attack at a local department store were found hidden along shelves of flammable products Sunday.
Officers of the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit Sunday discovered four burnt wallets with the bombs inside during an inspection on the second floor.
The first two wallets were hidden on the second shelf while the two others were found on the fourth shelf, five metres away from the first spot.
Along with the wallets, authorities also found damaged watches and circuits used in making the bombs.
It is believed that arsonists placed the bombs on the shelves of flammable products to help the fire spread.
Security in the province has been raised to the maximum level after two locations including the department store were set on fire in arson attacks in Muang district on Friday. There were no injuries.
At the second location, a shophouse selling plastic products at low prices, was engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to an ornamental fish shophouse next to it. The firemen took almost two hours to bring the fire under control.
EOD officials and police were unable to conduct the inspection earlier as the power system was severely damaged by fire, causing blackouts. The two-storey building was also at risk of subsiding as the roof was also damaged by fire.
A source said more than 10 suspects were believed to have been involved in the attacks. Each group comprised a motorcycle driver, an arsonist and an observer to stand guard.
The arsonists were thought to be young separatists with no previous criminal record. The suspects chose to hide the bombs where CCTV cameras were unable to detect them.
The attacks did not aim to take the lives of innocent people as the bombs went off after the store and shophouses had closed. Also, the bombs were small and contained no shrapnel.
Following the attack at the mall, around 80 employees were temporarily transferred to work at other departments.
