Suspects allegedly involved in an explosion close to a train carrying agricultural products in Narathiwat on Saturday were brought into custody by the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment yesterday.
A source said Col Thaweerat Benjathikul, the regiment chief, had taken suspects from their houses near Tanyongmas station in Rangae district after obtaining information they might have been involved.
The source did not reveal the suspects' names or how many there were. He said the suspects may have been involved in other security-related cases in the deep South.
However, he said if the investigation found these people had no involvement in the crime, they would be released.
On Saturday, a bomb exploded as a train carrying agricultural products approached Tanyongmas railway station. Gunshots were fired at one carriage, but nobody was hurt.
The attack occurred at 12.25pm when train No 986 on the Sungai Kolok-Bangkok route was about one kilometre away from Tanyongmas station.
The repurposed passenger train had departed Sungai Kolok to transport fruit, agricultural products and parcels from the deep South to Bangkok as part of measures to alleviate the hardship of people affected by travel restrictions and Covid-19 control measures.
Shortly after the bomb went off near Tanyongmas station, gunshots were fired at the fifth carriage, where State Railway of Thailand (SRT) staff were sitting. All escaped unhurt.
Soldiers from the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment yesterday were sent to inspect the railway and provide security for villagers who reside in nearby communities.
The source said Col Thaweerat had instructed his soldiers to work closely with community leaders and police as part of measures to help increase safety and boost confidence of the people.
Rail services to the southern border provinces are continuing as usual, but trains are terminating at Yala railway station, without continuing south to Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat.
Following the incident, the SRT workers' union in Hat Yai, Songkhla condemned the perpetrators of the attack and called for security agencies to step up measures to protect trains and SRT staff from attacks.
Railway police and defence volunteers were positioned on all southward trains from Songkla to step up security.