Sai Buri: A bombing incident in Sai Buri District has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, as perpetrators implemented a meticulously planned three-step strategy to lure and attack officials. It is suspected that the assailants are part of a group causing incidents across three provinces.
According to Thai News Agency, the assailants planted a bomb targeting officers who were on duty in the area. This attack followed an ambush on the rangers of the 4411th Ranger Company, 44th Ranger Regiment Task Force. The victims have been identified as Volunteer Defense Corpsman Samai Bunyong, 46, ranger officer of the 4411th Ranger Company; Mr. Maromlee Mayadeng, 53, assistant village headman for administration; and Mr. Adison Doloh, 41, assistant village headman for peacekeeping in Ban Hu Taek Alae, Tambon Trae Bon, Amphoe Sai Buri, Pattani Province. An additional victim, Mr. Harong Ye Lae, 49, assistant village headman for peacekeeping, sustained arm injuries but is reported to be safe. The incident took place on the night of March 8.
Further investigation has revealed a connection between the bombing and a previous incident, suggesting the involvement of the same group of perpetrators who lured officials to the scene before detonating the bomb. The assailants made three attempts before achieving their goal. The sequence of events began on March 7, 2015, when a suspicious object was tied to an electric pole in Ban Pai Yo Nai, accompanied by a car tire set on fire to attract officers. The officers blocked the area and sent military rangers, causing the initial plan to fail.
The second incident occurred on March 8, 2015, when the same group ambushed and shot at rangers securing the site of the tire fire from the previous day. Although the shootout resulted in no injuries, it was part of a strategy to lure officers. The perpetrators then prepared an improvised explosive device under a roadside pavilion nearby. When officers approached the pavilion at 23:20, the bomb was detonated, leading to the deaths of three officers and injuring another. The explosion also caused significant damage to nearby structures and created a bomb crater.
Authorities suspect that the group responsible for these events is linked to other perpetrators causing unrest in the southern border provinces. This incident is believed to be a demonstration of their operational capacity and a signal to the government regarding ongoing peace negotiations in the region.