Bombs in rubbish bags spark Narathiwat emergency school closure
Bombs planted inside rubbish bags sent shockwaves through a community in Narathiwat as police rushed to investigate the incident. Four explosive devices were strategically placed on Road 4136, prompting an emergency school closure and a large-scale investigation with no reported injuries.
Officials, including Direk Chomyong, deputy chief of Narathiwat Provincial Police, and Weerayut Tasiphan, chief of Koh Kian Police Station, together with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, quickly responded to the scene.
The explosives, hidden in rubbish bags, were positioned approximately 500 metres apart from one another in the Hutaetuao village area, Kokkian subdistrict. The devices detonated in quick succession at around 4.30am, today, November 21, just minutes apart, an investigator said.
“The explosions caused the ground and grass on the road median to lift slightly, leaving a crater about 3 inches deep and 5 inches wide.”
Evidence collected from the scene indicated that the bombs were homemade, using digital wristwatches as timers. The area was littered with remnants of the explosive devices, but no shrapnel was found that could have caused harm to individuals or property damage.
The first explosion took place opposite Ban Hutaetuao School, leading to its closure for the day to facilitate a thorough investigation. The second explosion occurred 500 metres away, opposite a fresh chicken shop, with the third blast happening opposite a curry shop. The fourth explosion was near Hutaetuao Mosque and Phatthanasatwitthaya Islamic School, each site bearing the same characteristics and type of explosive device.
Police collected evidence and conducted interviews, learning that, at around 11pm the previous night, locals reported suspicious items resembling bombs placed on the road median in Hutaetuao. Witnesses described seeing four men on two motorcycles riding against traffic from a construction workers’ camp.
The men stopped at each target location, placing the bombs before fleeing the scene, a police spokesperson said.
“The suspects rode against traffic and turned right to escape after placing all four bombs.”
In response, local police coordinated with Koh Kian Police Station officers to secure the area and close the road for public safety, reported KhaoSod.
Initial findings suggested the devices were improvised explosive devices (IEDs), leading to a decision to cordon off the area and notify relevant police for further investigation. Unfortunately, the bombs detonated before the team could safely defuse them.
