Riang: A bomb exploded in a pickup truck belonging to a village defense volunteer from Riang Subdistrict, killing one person and injuring three others slightly.
According to Thai News Agency, the bomb was planted under the road before being detonated as the vehicle was providing protection to the Riang Subdistrict.
At 3:35 PM, an assailant detonated the bomb on the roadside of Ban Bukkahile, Batong Subdistrict. The explosion injured four officers and damaged an armored vehicle. Among the injured was Sergeant Major Sainudeng Dokho, deputy head of the Village Defense Volunteers' Unit, who succumbed to his injuries at Rueso Hospital. The other three volunteers sustained minor injuries when the vehicle flipped over.
An inspection of the scene revealed a crater 1 meter deep and 2 meters wide, containing fragments of an improvised explosive device placed in a 50-kilogram cooking gas tank. Twenty meters away, an armored vehicle was found completely damaged by the blast, prompting officials to cordon off the area for further investigation.
The investigation revealed that Sergeant Major Zainudeng and his associates were returning to their base after a peace council meeting when the bomb detonated. The attack is believed to be the work of a violent group aiming to ambush and assassinate officials.
In a separate incident near Maruebo Railway Station in Narathiwat Province, a bomb exploded near a pile of rocks, injuring two soldiers and local government officials. Police from Ra-ngae Police Station responded to the report of the explosion, which occurred approximately 100 meters from the station.
The explosion scattered rocks and damaged a concrete sleeper supporting the tracks. Fragments of the improvised explosive device, assembled in a gas cylinder and detonated remotely, were collected as evidence. The injured were rescued and transported to Ra-ngae Hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest the incident was intended to ambush and kill officials, leading to the temporary suspension of all trains between Su-ngai Kolok and several other stations. Officials from the State Railway of Thailand are set to meet with security officials to discuss measures to prevent future incidents. Train services will resume once safety is assured.