Bomb Blast Greets Pm’s Visit To South

[cdnvic]

SOUTHERN UNREST: Bomb blast greets PM’s visit to South

Published on December 24, 2005

Authorities believe ‘Faisol’ is primary bomb maker in region. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s visit to the South yesterday was marred by a bomb blast that injured six people, including two police officers and a school director.

The bomb exploded at about 8am in Muang district, just 200 metres from the local police station, officials said. The 15-kilogram device was planted under a white car parked in front of an auto parts shop opposite the Song Kiratvirojkul teashop.

Pol Colonel Nukul Kraithong, the provincial police superintendent, said Muslim insurgents were probably behind the attack.

He said investigators found that the serial number on the car’s body did not match any car on record. They suspect the militants bought the body in Malaysia and replaced it with a local car.

The explosion damaged five buildings and spread debris in a 40-metre radius. Six people were injured, including two police officers, a school director and the wife of the restaurant owner. All of the injured were being treated at a local hospital yesterday.

Narathiwat Governor Pracha Therat urged officials to arrest a terror suspect named “Faisol”, believed to be the main bomb maker for insurgents in Narathiwat.

“[Faisol] is one of the key bomb makers in Narathiwat. Officials have been trying to arrest him but have not yet been successful. If we don’t arrest him, he will continue to produce and plant bombs,” Pracha said. Surveillance cameras deployed in municipal areas were able to capture the suspected militants who parked the car at around 6am, he said. However, he was not able to give details on the suspects or clarify if Faisol was among them.

This latest attack was perpetrated during a relatively peaceful month in the deep South as residents struggled to recover from the floods. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the region since violence broke out in January last year.

The Nation

[thaivisitor]

Wow!!! It means that they now have bigger fundings, since they can sacrifice a car. Not like what they used to do in the past.

Hope they don't get enough fundings to make bombs like those that hit Bali.

[astral]

But they missed him........................

Good or bad. You decide.