BANGKOK, Sept 30 (TNA) – A car bomb exploded near a district chief’s house in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat late Sunday, injuring two navy personnel.
The blast occurred around 10 p.m. at the entrance of the Tak Bai district chief’s house, according to local authorities.
The injured soldiers identified as Pvt Binreem, 22 Pvt Anuwat, 22 from the Royal Thai Navy’s 33rd Naval Special Warfare Command suffered shrapnel wounds to their legs, bodies, and faces. They were rushed to Tak Bai Hospital for treatment.
The explosion also caused damage to nearby civilian homes and a local security forces outpost. Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage.
The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, Forward Command reported additional details about the car bomb incident.
Before the explosion, 5 suspects dressed in military-style uniforms with balaclavas covering their faces used M16 rifles to steal a vehicle of a volunteer ranger’s wife.
They then planted an improvised explosive device in the vehicle and parked it in front of the district chief’s house. The two injured soldiers were not on duty at the time but had gone out to buy food.
This morning, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and forensic officers investigated the scene. They also discovered bomb fragments from an explosive device assembled inside a cooking gas tank weighing about 50 kilograms, though the exact detonator is still unknown.
The security booth at the entrance of the flats housing the Tak Bai District Volunteer Defense Corps suffered damage to its walls and roof.
Authorities believe it was carried out by members of a violent group, likely the same one responsible for planting a bomb in front of a gold shop on October 21, 2023.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai acknowledged the incident may be linked to the upcoming expiration of the statute of limitations on October 25 in the high-profile Tak Bai case.
The case stems from an October 25, 2004 protest in Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province, where authorities arrested protesters and transported them in military trucks to a nearby army camp. Upon arrival, 78 detainees were found dead due to suffocation.
Police officers and related agencies must expedite bringing 14 state officials who are defendants and suspects from two related cases to court.
Phumtham stated that efforts are being made to contact involved parties, including Gen. Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, urging them to appear in court before the case expires, with the goal of resolving the matter through legal channels.
Gen. Pisarn, the former 4th Army Area Commander and a party-list MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has immunity under the constitution due to the ongoing parliamentary session.
The court lacks the authority to issue an arrest warrant for him. As a result, an urgent letter has been sent to the House Speaker, requesting that Gen. Pisarn be sent to provide testimony at the next scheduled hearing scheduled on Oct 15. -819 (TNA)
