PATTANI, Jan3 (TNA) – Six police officers and a three-year-old child were injured in a bomb attack at a security checkpoint in Thailand’s restive southern province of Pattani on Friday.
The explosion occurred at a checkpoint near Ban Kalapor School in Saiburi district, where officers were conducting routine New Year holiday security checks. All victims were taken to nearby hospital for treatment, with the child suffering minor injuries.
Initial investigations suggest the improvised explosive device was hidden in a battery compartment of a traffic sign near the checkpoint. Police believe the attackers had been monitoring the checkpoint for several days before the incident.
The attack comes as Thailand’s deep south approaches the 21st anniversary of the ongoing insurgency in the region. Local security officials believe the bombing was intended to create unrest ahead of this milestone.
Thailand’s three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat have experienced decades of violence since 2004. -819 (TNA)
