Thai teenager killed while making homemade bomb in Isaan

A 16 year old Thai teenager lost his life while making a homemade bomb at his friend’s house in the Isaan province of Surin.

The boy, identified only as A, was found dead outside his friend’s home in the Khwao Sinrin district of Surin at around 11.40am on Tuesday, July 16. Officers from Khwao Sinrin Police Station were called to the scene to investigate the cause of death.

Officers later revealed to Channel 3 that A was wearing a school uniform and had a severe wound to his mouth. His tongue was severed. He was lying in a pool of blood with flesh and teeth scattered near his body.

Scraps of nails and other parts of a homemade ping pong bomb were also found at the scene, leading police to suspect that A was killed by his device.

A friend of A told police that he came to his house to pick him up to meet another friend in the community. He asked A to wait for him while he used the bathroom. Moments later he heard an explosion outside. He exited the bathroom to check on his friend and found him dead.

The friend said he was shocked and unsure what to do, so he called his grandmother to the scene, 67 year old Rabiab Mumthong.

Rabiab told police and the media that she was stunned by the horrific scene. She said she had never witnessed anything like it in her life and was unable to do anything but call for help from her neighbours.

A’s friend disclosed that he enjoyed making homemade bombs and would test them in quiet, remote places away from residential areas. He had made many homemade bombs previously.

A’s body was taken to the hospital for a post-mortem examination to officially determine the cause of death. Officers urged parents to monitor their children closely, as they may appear well-behaved at home but engage in risky activities when out of sight.