Sai buri: Officials cleared the area but found no additional suspects after a violent clash yesterday at a Ponoh institute in Sai Buri District, Pattani Province, resulting in the death of one EOD officer. ISOC Region 4 revealed that the suspect who was arrested and killed had a warrant for murder, confirming that the area was used for hiding and training for violence.
According to Thai News Agency, the clash led to the death of Police Sergeant Somsak Naksen, 50, head of the EOD team of the 444th Border Patrol Police Company, who was shot by assailants while searching the area. Another assailant was shot dead by officers and another was taken into custody. The incident occurred yesterday evening.
Throughout the night until noon today, officers continuously surrounded and searched the area within a 1-kilometer radius of the incident, using patrols and drones to search for the perpetrators. However, no additional suspicious persons were found, leading to the cancellation of the mission.
Regarding the over 130 students from the Islamic school, officials were transporting them from the school to Ban Pa Thung School in Bang Kao Subdistrict, a safe area at the time of the incident. Today, some of the students' parents arrived to take them home. Officials are preparing to bring the remaining students back to their original school after the area has been cleared and ensured to be safe.
The clash started when villagers informed officials of an explosion near a pondok institute. The investigative team and the bomb disposal team of the 44th Border Patrol Police went to investigate and found a suspicious man running out of a dormitory. They arrested Mr. Surhafisi, 29, discovering a 9mm pistol with ammunition and one arrest warrant on him.
Reinforcements were requested from the Pattani Provincial Task Force and the Southern Border Provinces Ranger Force. During the search, an estimated two or three more suspects were believed to be hiding inside the Islamic religious institution. While deploying to search each dormitory, Pol. Sgt. Maj. Somsak Naksen entered one of the dormitories and was fired upon by a suspect hiding in a closet. The suspect, armed with an M16 rifle, fired several shots, injuring Pol. Sgt. Maj. Somsak. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the suspect was killed.
Police Sergeant Major Somsak was taken to Somdej Phra Yupparat Sai Buri Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries due to multiple gunshot wounds and severe blood loss.
The Royal Thai Police expressed condolences to the family of Police Senior Sergeant Major Somsak Naksen. They commended his dedication and are prepared to provide full support for his rights and welfare.
Col. Pongpol Suthibenjakul, deputy spokesman for ISOC Region 4 Forward Command, revealed that the area was used by violent perpetrators for physical training and hiding. Authorities attempted to control the area and apprehended Mr. Surhafisi, wanted for a shooting death in July. Another assailant, Muhammad, was killed after firing at Police Senior Sergeant Major Somsak; he had an arrest warrant for the shooting death of a volunteer ranger.
In a separate incident in Narathiwat Province, a bomb exploded at a tea shop, injuring two police officers and eight villagers. The explosion, caused by a 10-kg improvised explosive device, damaged the tea shop and a villager's pickup truck. The injured were taken to Yingor Chalermprakiat 80th Anniversary Hospital for treatment.