ATMs damaged in coordinated bombing

PATTANI: Police are hunting down suspected insurgents who blew up three Islamic bank automated teller machine (ATMs) across three districts yesterday.

Local authorities said the first bomb went off at 12.45am at an ATM in front of Fatoni University, a private Islamic university in Ban Sarong, tambon Khao Tum in Yarang district.

The second bomb went off at 12.54am in front of Asiztan Islamic School in tambon Na Pradu, Khok Pho district and the third bomb exploded at an ATM in front of Sasana Sathan Islamic School in tambon Tabing of Sai Buri district.

No casualties were reported. Local police said tyres were burned by separatist militants at two different locations along Route 42 in Khok Pho district.

Pol Maj Gen Piyawat Chalermsri, Pattani police chief, said efforts are being made to arrest those who are behind the coordinated bombings.

An initial probe found that at least 10 suspected insurgents are involved in the bombings.

“I believe the insurgents are likely to be from the same group,” said Pol Maj Gen Piyawat.

Shortly after the bombings, Pol Maj Gen Piyawat ordered 12 district stations to strictly monitor activities at public places and communal areas.

He said that he obtained information that insurgents are planning to carry out several attacks in the area.

Meanwhile on Saturday night, several gunmen opened fire on Fuji Hajj and Tour company in Narathiwat’s Yi-ngo district.

The tour agency offers packages to Muslims who want to go on the Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Pol Capt Montree Petchnualnoi, an investigator at Yi-ngo police station, said that his team found 11 casings of 9-millimetre bullets at the scene.

CHAIWAT SATYAEM BELOW Motorcycles with southern licence plates attached alerted Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers to a possible bomb attack near Hua Hin railway station in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday. However, no devices were found.