Suspected M79 Grenade Attack Injures Three at Worker Camp in Songkhla

Three construction workers were injured in an explosion at their accommodation near a site where a large Guan Yin statue is being built in Thepha District, in Songkhla early morning on 20 November.

The incident occurred at 06:00 at the workers’ quarters in Ban Pak Bang Sakom, Moo 1, Sakom Subdistrict, according to a report from the local Territorial Defense Volunteers. Preliminary investigations revealed two explosions, believed to have been caused by an M79 grenade launcher fired from a distance. Shrapnel fragments found at the scene support this theory.

The attack caused injuries to three individuals, all of whom sustained wounds across their bodies. A pickup truck parked nearby was also damaged. Emergency responders and law enforcement officers arrived at the scene to provide assistance and secure the area.

Adding to the chaos, the explosions triggered a fire that engulfed the workers’ accommodation. Plumes of smoke were visible as firefighters from the Sakom Subdistrict Administrative Organisation worked  to extinguish the flames.

The site, currently under development by a private company, is part of a larger project involving the construction of a large Guan Yin statue. The project is linked to the same company behind the controversial Chana Industrial Estate development, which was suspended following local protests and subsequent SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) studies.

Authorities are now investigating the incident. Efforts are underway to review CCTV footage and gather intelligence on potential suspects in the area. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and officials are treating the case as a priority.

Picture from responders.

-- 2024-11-20