Train bomb suspect arrested

Train bomb suspect arrested

NARATHIWAT: Security officers Tuesday arrested a man they say is connected with the Sunday bomb attack on a Yala-Sungai Kolok train which left three dead and 36 others wounded.

A unit of Narathiwat Task Force 30 arrested the suspect, a Narathiwat native, while he was riding a motorcycle on a local road in Ban Salow in tambon Rueso, the scene of the Sunday bombing. Officers took him for questioning at an unidentified military base in the province, which is under emergency law. 

No other details of his arrest were revealed by authorities. The man's name was withheld.

Spokesmen said the man was suspected of helping attackers by acting as a lookout while accomplices carried out the actual planting of the bomb on the railway track as it neared Salo Bukit Yure station. 

Authorities said the man was already wanted, along with his brother on a criminal charge "related to insurgent activities".

Officials said the man was held under emergency rule, but would be released immediately if found not involved with the bombing incident. 

Security forces said men suspected of being behind the attack were henchmen of Rawpae-ing U-seng, a 43-year-old who is suspected of being a leader of the  Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) terrorist grouop in the Rueso area.

Senior officers of Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) met Tuesday to discuss how to provide better security measures on train services which will return to normal Wednesday in the three southern provinces.

SRT deputy chief Tanongsak Pongprasert said after the meeting that security officers will step up patrols in vulnerable spots such as hilly areas along the train tracks, and near railway bridges, especially between Yala’s Raman district and Narathiwat’s Rangae where attacks have been most frequent. 

Military helicopters will conduct aerial patrols more often, and soldiers will increase patrols of the track and on board trains.  

Photos by Vichayant Boonchote

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