ID :
83327
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 18:41
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http://m.oananews.org//node/83327
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Two killed in Narathiwat insurgent attacks; over 30 wounded
NARATHIWAT, Oct 6 (TNA) – Two people were killed Tuesday in the Thai-Malay border district’s Sungai Golok municipality as presumed insurgents used a large car bomb, at least one hand grenade and automatic weapons in several attacks on a hotel, beauty shops, restaurants and food stalls.
During the late lunch hour, about 2 pm, a car bomb exploded in front of the Merlin Hotel on Charoenkhet Road in Sungai Golok municipality, 100 metres from Sungai Golok police station.
Insurgents on motorcycles lobbed a hand grenade into a restaurant and tossed a homemade bomb at a som tam (papaya salad) vendor’s cart. Over 30 people were wounded.
Investigators estimated that suspected insurgents built a 50-kilogramme bomb into an automobile and parked it in front of a beauty shop beside the hotel. Police said the bomb was detonated by a hand-held radio.
The bomb destroyed the car, sending fragments which damaged six hairdressing and cosmetics shops, several restaurants and the hotel lobby.
One local police officer died at the scene. Pol. Cpl Vatcharapong Ampairit died immediately while food shop owner Preeyanuch Chotepaiboonpan, 45, died enroute to hospital. The 12 people wounded by gunfire and bomb fragments were later hospitalised.
According to the investigation, two presumed insurgents in security volunteer uniforms parked their motorcycle in front of the food shops before firing at three restaurants where local residents and police officers were having their meals.
Before leaving the scene, the assailants threw a homemade bomb at another food shop.
Restaurants and food shops have recently become more frequent targets of insurgents.
Over 3,900 people have died in the renewed violence which broke out in January 2004 in the three Malay Muslim majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, along Thailand’s southern border. (TNA)
During the late lunch hour, about 2 pm, a car bomb exploded in front of the Merlin Hotel on Charoenkhet Road in Sungai Golok municipality, 100 metres from Sungai Golok police station.
Insurgents on motorcycles lobbed a hand grenade into a restaurant and tossed a homemade bomb at a som tam (papaya salad) vendor’s cart. Over 30 people were wounded.
Investigators estimated that suspected insurgents built a 50-kilogramme bomb into an automobile and parked it in front of a beauty shop beside the hotel. Police said the bomb was detonated by a hand-held radio.
The bomb destroyed the car, sending fragments which damaged six hairdressing and cosmetics shops, several restaurants and the hotel lobby.
One local police officer died at the scene. Pol. Cpl Vatcharapong Ampairit died immediately while food shop owner Preeyanuch Chotepaiboonpan, 45, died enroute to hospital. The 12 people wounded by gunfire and bomb fragments were later hospitalised.
According to the investigation, two presumed insurgents in security volunteer uniforms parked their motorcycle in front of the food shops before firing at three restaurants where local residents and police officers were having their meals.
Before leaving the scene, the assailants threw a homemade bomb at another food shop.
Restaurants and food shops have recently become more frequent targets of insurgents.
Over 3,900 people have died in the renewed violence which broke out in January 2004 in the three Malay Muslim majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, along Thailand’s southern border. (TNA)
