South —
On October 24th, 2024, Col. Kiattisak Neewong, the spokesperson for the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, reports two serious incidents in Thailand’s southern insurgency.
According to Col. Kiattisak, on October 23rd, a bombing in Narathiwat injured three paramilitary officers from the 4515 Civilian Affairs Patrol Unit. The soldiers were returning from a village leader meeting in Ban Kuching Lu Pa village when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a drainpipe exploded on a rural road.
The blast occurred about 150 meters from the meeting point, causing injuries to the soldiers. They were immediately transferred to Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital and are now in stable condition.
In a separate incident, a group of around 10 masked gunmen dressed in black allegedly stormed the Na Bo Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Pattani around 11:30 PM on October 23rd.
The attackers reportedly tied up four staff members on duty and stole a pickup truck. Shortly after, at 12:15 AM on October 24th, the stolen vehicle, rigged with explosives, was parked between Panare Police Station and the District Office, where it was detonated, according to Col. Kiattisak.
The explosion damaged buildings, police vehicles, and motorcycles, though no injuries or fatalities were reported. Investigations revealed that the bomb used in the Narathiwat attack was a homemade device, though the type of container and triggering mechanism remain unknown.
Local authorities suspected that both incidents were the work of insurgent groups aiming to create unrest and destroy government property. Security forces have heightened their presence in the area, with the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team and forensic officers gathering evidence to track down the perpetrators swiftly.
In response, three-pronged military forces have launched strict security operations, particularly around checkpoints near the city center of Narathiwat and key locations like the Plak Pla checkpoint.
Officials are also on high alert as the region approaches the anniversary of the 2004 Tak Bai incident. Authorities are concerned that insurgents may attempt to exploit the event for political motives or to intensify violence, reported Thai national media.
With the statute of limitations expiring on October 25th for those involved in the Tak Bai crackdown, law enforcement agencies are under pressure to maintain security and prevent any escalation of violence.
The public has been urged to report anything suspicious to authorities immediately to aid in ongoing security efforts.
