The body of a man was found yesterday (Wednesday) in one of more than a dozen of 7-Eleven and Mini Big C convenience stores, gas stations and communication towers in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, which were attacked by southern insurgents on Tuesday night.
Deputy Commander of the Fourth Army Region Maj-Gen Pramote Prom-in said yesterday that he believes the coordinated bomb attacks, selectively targeting convenience stores, were carried out by a single group of insurgents to undermine the economy of the Deep South, as the stores are economic symbols.
The charred body of the 21-year-old man was found inside a store, located in the compound of a PTT gas station in Su-Ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat province, during an inspection by a unit of explosive ordnance disposal officials. The remains were sent to a hospital for autopsy, before being handed over to his family for burial.
Police said that the family of the victim had reached out to the local authorities, which posted on Facebook, details of their missing relative, following the spate of bomb attacks.
Maj-Gen Pramote said that a total of 19 targets were attacked, including 10 in Narathiwat, 6 in Yala and 3 in Pattani, adding that all the attacks appear to have followed the same pattern.
He said some of the perpetrators disguised themselves as women, covering their faces with head scarves, while others threw firebombs at their targets from motorcycles, with the exception of one case, in which they placed the IED near a truck at a gas station in Pattani province.
Pramote noted that the attacks on Tuesday night are similar to previous attacks, but, this time, the main targets were convenience stores, adding that he believes over 50 insurgents were involved.
Police also said that the Bangchak gas station in Pattani province sustained heavy damage in the blast and subsequent fire and the roof collapsed.
Insurgents placed a 15kg improvised explosive device (IED) near a truck parked at the gas station and detonated it remotely.
Authorities have been collecting evidence from the crime scenes in an effort to identify the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Gen Suphot Malaniyom said the authorities have been questioning the managers of the stores to try to discover if any of them knew the attackers or if there are any other motives behind the attacks.
More than 7,300 people have been killed in violence in the Deep South since the rebellion by insurgent groups flared up in 2004.
Talks, facilitated by Malaysia, were held between the Thai military and the insurgent groups on March 31 and April 1, with the Thai military proposing a truce during Buddhist Lent, but the proposal was not positively received and was followed by the violent incidents, according to Maj-Gen Pramote.
More than 7,300 people have been killed in violence in the Deep South since the rebellion by insurgent groups flared up in 2004.
Talks, facilitated by Malaysia, were held between the Thai military and the insurgent groups on August 1st and 2nd, with the Thai military proposing a truce during Buddhist Lent, but the proposal was not positively received and was followed by the violent incidents, according to Maj-Gen Pramote.
