NARATHIWAT — The Chanae district chief escaped unhurt when a motorcycle bomb believed intended for him exploded on Wednesday afternoon as he was driving by.
A pickup truck carrying the Chanae district chief and four defence volunteers was damaged by a motorcycle bomb in Narathiwat on Wednesday. All onboard escaped death and serious injury. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
The bomb went off at about 3.30pm on a road outside a kubo (a Muslim cemetery) at Ban Nam Won in tambon Chang Puak while Atthapol Sonsakul, the Chanae district chief, and four defence volunteers were travelling in a pickup truck to the district office.
Police found that explosive material had been packed into a 20kg gas cylinder and detonated with a communications radio.
Pol Lt Thanin Kanpai of Chanae police station said the gas cylinder was placed in the front of a motorcycle parked on the side of the road. When the group drove past, insurgents hiding nearby detonated the bomb.
It damaged the left side of the pickup, but Mr Atthapol escaped unscathed. The four defence volunteers suffered chest pains and temporary hearing loss. They are Arwae Sahor, Farus Ming, Sayutee Haayee-jaemu and Iffian Duaramae.
A bystander, Da-o Arlee, 60, who was crossing the road at the time of the bombing, sustained shrapnel wounds to his left arm and was taken to Chanae Hospital by local residents.
Security officers believe the attack targeted the Chanae district chief to restore confidence among insurgent operatives and sympathisers after several key terrorists were recently shot dead in Narathiwat and Pattani provinces.
(Photo by Waedao Harai)