THREE policemen and five rangers were injured as insurgents set off four bombs in far South Narathiwat province this morning (Oct. 18), Amarin TV said.
The first blast at 6.09 a.m. knocked down two power poles at Road 4056 in Su-ngai Padi district but there were no casualties. Pol. Col. Asri Tuanpeng, superintendent of Su-ngai Padi police station, quickly requested support from the bomb disposal unit at 447th Border Patrol Police, forensic officers and sniffer dogs to inspect the scene.
Later at 7.39 a.m. a third bomb went off at Ban Do Hae bridge in the same district with initial report saying the insurgents had planted the bomb at a large tree by the roadside and set it off just as a team of rangers the 4808th Ranger Company were passing slightly injuring five of them.
Then at 9.55 a.m. a fourth bomb went off with this also having been buried beneath a large tree by the roadside just 500 metres from Ban Taling Sung bridge, which is 500 metres from the 447th Border Patrol Police base, just as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and forensic officers, accompanied by an investigation team, were travelling in four vehicles to inspect the bombing site. The blast hit the last car injuring three policemen.
Pol. Col. Direk Chomyong, deputy chief of Narathiwat provincial police, Pol. Col. Asri, Su-ngai Padi police station chief, Pol. Lt. Col. Thirachote Pathomwanichka, commander of the 447th Border Patrol Police unit, and relevant officers gathered at this Border Patrol Police base as they waited for Pol. Maj. Gen. Maitree Santayakun, commander of Narathiwat Provincial Police, to chair a meeting to plan the inspection of the crime scene, fearing that the insurgents might lure them in and then ambush them.
Initial report said some sniffer dogs will be sent in to clear the first three bombing sites to ensure safety before relevant agencies inspect them.
CAPTION
Two of four bombing sites in Narathiwat province today, Oct. 18,2024. Top photo: TV Channel 7, Below and Front Page: Amarin TV
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