Roadside bomb explodes on road in Deep South province, damages police truck

An improvised bomb exploded on a road in the Chanae District of Narathiwat yesterday, damaging a police pickup truck. The explosion left cracks in the windshield, and fragments of the bomb were scattered. No injuries were reported. Police Captain Yuthachai Rojsirimontree, a Chanae investigator, said the attack happened on the Chanae-Dusongso road at about 3.45pm.

Police believe militants detonated the bomb, targeting them. Eight policemen in two pickups were returning to Chanae police station when the home-made bomb was detonated remotely. Narathiwat is a province in Southern Thailand, a region home to conflict between Muslims and Bhuddists since 1909.

Though the Thai government and Southern insurgents have recently held peace talks for the first time in two years, the violence continues in Southern Thailand. Two weeks ago, Muslim insurgents in Narathiwat killed a ranger at an operations base. Incidents, like roadside bombings, are a fairly common occurrence in Narathiwat.

Sources: Bangkok Post | Bangkok Post