Bombs, timers found in pickup after chase in far South

Bombs, timers found in pickup after chase in far South

Pipe bombs and timer circuits found in a pickup truck abandoned after a police chase in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district around noon on Thursday. One man was detained, but another fled into the forest. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
Pipe bombs and timer circuits found in a pickup truck abandoned after a police chase in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district around noon on Thursday. One man was detained, but another fled into the forest. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

NARATHIWAT: Forty-one pipe bombs, boxes of pre-set timers and other equipment were seized from a pickup truck and one of two men on board caught after a police chase in Tak Bai district around noon on Thursday.

Highway police signalled the Isuzu pickup truck with Pattani licence plates to stop for a search at a checkpoint on Sungai Kolok-Tak Bai Road at Saring village in tambon Khosit, Tak Bai district, around 12.10pm on Thursday. Instead, the driver sped off. Police followed in pursuit.

The pickup was later abandoned on the side of the road and a man aged around 30 seen fleeing into the forest. Another man was found inside the vehicle, Thai media reported.

Police searched the truck and found 41 pipe bombs, two communication radios, four torches, two boxes of radio circuitry, 36 boxes containing timer circuits set for 5 minutes, another box of circuits set for 10 minutes and two boxes set for 30 minutes, Manager Online reported.

Soldiers and police were assigned to hunt down the fleeing man. A bomb disposal squad was called in make sure the bombs were safe.

Authorities believed the explosives were intended for use by insurgents this weekend. 

The man found in the pickup was being interrogated.

The arrested man was later named as driver Sarnusee Yatae, 39, of Narathiwat’s Rangae district; and the fleeing passenger as Abdul-arshi Sama, of Tak Bai district.

The driver of the pickup truck is caught. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

Pipe bombs found in the pickup truck. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

Timing devices found on the pickup. (Photo by Waedao Harai)

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