Five Dead in Southern Thailand Bombings; Security Crackdown Follows
A wave of violence shook Thailand’s southern border provinces, prompting an urgent security overhaul following deadly attacks that killed five security personnel and volunteers and injured thirteen others. Twin bombings ripped through Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat province and Sai Buri district in Pattani province late Saturday night, causing widespread destruction and raising concerns about escalating unrest.
Lt. Gen. Paisan Nusang, Commander of the 4th Army Region and Director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, visited the devastated sites on Sunday, March 9, to assess the damage and orchestrate an immediate security response. At an emergency meeting with military, police, and administrative officials at the Sungai Kolok Police Station, he unveiled new security protocols aimed at preventing further attacks.
The Sungai Kolok attack, a meticulously planned operation, involved a bronze Toyota sedan converted into a car bomb. Parked in front of the district office’s auditorium, the vehicle contained a 100-kilogram cooking gas cylinder detonated by radio signal. The resulting explosion was devastating. The blast radius, exceeding 100 meters, severely damaged numerous buildings, including the auditorium façade, the revenue department, the district office’s second-floor meeting room, the fire engine garage, a storage building, and a nearby National Housing Authority apartment building. The blast shattered windows, doors, and louvers, ripped through roofing, and damaged trucks and armored vehicles.
“This attack was sophisticated and indicates a significant level of planning,” Lt. Gen. Paisan declared. He suggested the perpetrators had likely been active in the area for a considerable period, possibly before Ramadan, and may be linked to groups operating in Sungai Padi district. Dismissing any connection between the attacks and ongoing peace dialogues or administrative gaps, he emphasized the critical need for improved intelligence gathering and the closure of security loopholes, particularly during Ramadan.
While violent incidents in the region have historically occurred in the final ten days of Ramadan, often attributed to misguided religious interpretations, this year’s attacks occurred early in the holy month, demanding increased vigilance. Lt. Gen. Paisan appealed for public cooperation, urging citizens to report suspicious activities. He later visited the injured personnel at Sungai Kolok Hospital, offering gifts and commending their bravery and sacrifice.
In Bangkok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, returning from a trip to Germany, expressed condolences to the victims' families and called for enhanced remedial measures, including an increased security presence, especially at night, and greater attention to the public’s psychological well-being.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered 24-hour security at all district offices, government buildings, and operational bases. He mandated stringent vehicle inspections for everyone entering and exiting the area, prohibited unauthorized vehicles near district offices, and required comprehensive record-keeping of all vehicles near these sensitive locations. “Given that we are in the holy month of Ramadan, a time of peace for our Muslim brothers and sisters, all officers must operate with utmost caution,” Mr. Anutin stated, emphasizing the need for heightened security before, during, and after Ramadan.
The attacks highlighted the volatile security situation in southern Thailand and the challenges in maintaining peace and stability. As authorities address the aftermath and implement enhanced security measures, the focus remains on preventing further violence and bringing those responsible to justice.
