Suspected Deep South bomb truck found in Phuket Town

[webfact]

Suspected Deep South bomb truck found in Phuket Town
Phuket Gazette


Phuket bomb disposal officers inspect the pickup truck at an isolated quarry in Chalong this morning. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Bomb disposal experts this morning are inspecting a pickup truck that was found parked in front of Phuket City Police Station with two gas cylinders in the back seat connected by electrical wires.

Officers discovered the pickup truck on Saturday while clearing the police station car park for the annual police assembly held each year to launch the new year’s security detail.

“No one present claimed to be the owner, so we had the vehicle moved to the back of the station,” Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiewruangnont told the Phuket Gazette.

“A day passed and nobody contacted us about the vehicle, so officers searched it and found two 15kg gas tanks in the back seat covered by a piece of cloth,” he added.

Experts from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit have since had the pickup moved to an isolated quarry in Chalong.

“The EOD officers are now thoroughly inspecting the two gas tanks and the wires connecting them. At this stage, I have yet to be informed what gas – if any – the tanks contain. We will announce more details as soon as we learn more,” Maj Gen Ong-art said.

The pickup truck was reported stolen from a province in the Deep South, the commander confirmed.

“The vehicle was also fitted with stolen license plates. We are still investigating this,” he said.

At 7:30pm last night, Phuket Police and officers from the EOD held a meeting at Phuket City Police.

No reporters were allowed to attend. The officers left the room after 30 minutes, but released no information about the meeting.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Suspected-Deep-South-bomb-truck-found-in-Phuket-Town-23088.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-23

[MK1]

There appears to be a tit-for-tat sponsored fear campaign going on, similar to that of the Bangkok 2006 New Years Eve Bombings after the ousting and disposing of the Thaksin government in that year. We need no second guesses as to who’s likely to be behind this one. Stay safe everyone.

[Somtamnication]

Oh dear. And they transported an explosive-laddened truck through Phuket Town, to Chalong, to investigate. Dear Bhudda, what could have happened if it went off, oh, lets say, Kaorong Hill (sp)?

By Plookpanya?

[webfact]

Makeshift car bomb defused in Phuket: Thai police

BANGKOK, December 23, 2013 (AFP) - Thai authorities defused a makeshift car bomb found near a police station on the popular tourist island of Phuket, an official said Monday.

The device was found on Sunday after the authorities searched a suspicious vehicle left in the car park of a police station on the island.

The "bomb was found hidden in a pick-up truck which was stolen a few months ago," Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-Art Piuruengnon told AFP by telephone.

"A bomb disposal team defused it and found that it was unable to explode," he added.

While bombings are common in Thailand's insurgency-plagued deep south near the border with Malaysia, it is believed to be the first time that a car bomb has been found in Phuket, which is popular with foreign tourists.

Police declined to give details about the type of explosives discovered and it was unclear who left the device.

Muslim militants have waged a near-decade-long insurgency in Thailand's southernmost provinces but they are not known to have targeted Western tourists.

More than 20 people were wounded Sunday when a car bomb went off near a hotel in the southern province of Songkhla.

Shadowy insurgents have waged near-daily bomb and gun attacks, targeting security forces and civilians from both the Buddhist and Muslim communities in a conflict has left more than 5,700 people dead.

Thailand's tourist-friendly image as the "Land of Smiles" has been tested in recent years by political violence, devastating floods, deadly bus and boat accidents, and growing concerns about crimes against foreigners.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-23

[sunshine51]

Boy oh boy....sure took a while to post this earth shattering news especially since I posted

a piece at 10:10 this morning on this thread stating the same thing...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691213-24-hurt-as-three-bomb-blasts-strike-songkhla/

[Ulic]

If the device was not able to explode does it count as being defused? A job well done. In North America

they would have just blown the whole thing up. I hope the guy who had his truck stolen gets it back in

usable condition.

[Felt 35]

Officers discovered the pickup truck on Saturday ......after 4 months in their parking lot....great

[khunsiam]

If the device was not able to explode does it count as being defused? A job well done. In North America

they would have just blown the whole thing up. I hope the guy who had his truck stolen gets it back in

usable condition.

the owner 'd been shot dead when his car was stolen, in the deep south

[MK1]

Officers discovered the pickup truck on Saturday ......after 4 months in their parking lot....great

4 months, 1 day or one year in their parking lot is perhaps irrelevant, the real issue is why and who is responsible? The fact that again the public must be kept in dark the over this obvious security breach right under their very noses is appalling. I can only guess that someone of higher authority at Phuket City police station will not be attending this year’s annual police assembly, in light of the breach, and most likely is packing his bags in anticipation of a transfer to another post in the deep south…bon voyage.

[Colabamumbai]

Officers discovered the pickup truck on Saturday ......after 4 months in their parking lot....great

4 months, 1 day or one year in their parking lot is perhaps irrelevant, the real issue is why and who is responsible? The fact that again the public must be kept in dark the over this obvious security breach right under their very noses is appalling. I can only guess that someone of higher authority at Phuket City police station will not be attending this year’s annual police assembly, in light of the breach, and most likely is packing his bags in anticipation of a transfer to another post in the deep south…bon voyage.

No No No in Thailand no one will be packing their bags. This is promotionable stuff.

[JetsetBkk]

Phuket Police chief calls to play down bomb scare

PHUKET: The commander of the Phuket Provincial Police has called for the media to not “help suspects” by publishing news of the car bomb found in Phuket Town last weekend.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Police-chief-calls-to-play-down-bomb-scare-23107.html

Good idea! For gawd's sake don't remind those naughty insurgents that there is a rather well known and popular tourist destination just a few clicks up the road.

[MK1]

Phuket Police chief calls to play down bomb scareg

PHUKET: The commander of the Phuket Provincial Police has called for the media to not “help suspects” by publishing news of the car bomb found in Phuket Town last weekend.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Police-chief-calls-to-play-down-bomb-scare-23107.html

Good idea! For gawd's sake don't remind those naughty insurgents that there is a rather well known and popular tourist destination just a few clicks up the road.

At least the Commander was open, fair and reasonable in his response, which also reflected his perception, that anything is possible as reported by PG

Quote,:Despite confirmation from other police stations that the pickup truck owner, Withan Yachumnan, was shot dead in the carjacking of his vehicle in Pattani, Commander Ong-art remains unconvinced the bomb found in Phuket is directly linked to the Deep South insurgency.

“It’s possible, that’s all we can say at this stage,” he said.Unquote.