Thai Bomb Scare: Police Hunt for Explosives on Surin Beach

Photo via PPTV HD

Police in Thailand are conducting an urgent search for two bombs allegedly hidden on Surin Beach in Phuket. This follows the arrest of six suspects linked to a bomb plot targeting key sites in the popular tourist destination.

Early on Tuesday, June 24, officers from Mueang Phang Nga Police Station detained two men, Muhama Wadeng, 29, and Sulaiman Gaza, 27, in Phang Nga province. The pair were discovered with a bomb in their vehicle, reportedly en route from Songkhla to Phuket under the orders of an unknown individual. The suspects claim they were instructed to adhere to a specific route and alternated driving until their capture at a police checkpoint in Songkhla.

Authorities believe these individuals might be connected to the ongoing insurgency in Thailand's deep south and have transferred them to Pattani province for further questioning by a special task force.

During the interrogation, the suspects confessed to planting bombs at four crucial locations: Phuket International Airport, Promthep Cape, Patong Beach, and Surin Beach. The device at the airport was concealed in a motorbike and safely defused by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team with the help of a K-9 unit.

At Promthep Cape, the bomb was hidden under a staircase in an aluminium container. It took the disposal team four attempts to neutralise the threat successfully. Meanwhile, a device buried on Patong Beach was discovered and safely defused, watched by concerned beachgoers.

The suspects admitted to placing two further bombs on Surin Beach. An initial search yesterday did not locate the devices, prompting a renewed effort that began at 7 am today, June 27. Authorities are keen to ensure the safety of tourists and locals.

In total, six suspects have been apprehended: the two in Phang Nga, one in Bangkok, and three others in different southern provinces.

Major-General Paisarn Noosang, Commander of the 4th Army Region, informed Isra News Agency that the bombs were constructed to create loud noises rather than cause harm. He suggested the plot aimed to disrupt southern Thailand's tourism, allegedly orchestrated by insurgent leaders from a neighbouring country to harm the region's economy.

Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant while ensuring all efforts are made to maintain safety and security across Phuket.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-27