Big C bombers in Pattani identified by Thai authorities

[webfact]

Pattani suspects identified
By THE NATION

 

 

Camera catches images of four ‘linked to BRN’ in the act; at least 80 people injured

 

PATTANI: -- A MASSIVE HUNT has been launched for four men who were allegedly involved in the double blasts at a Big C department store in Pattani province on Tuesday after security camera footage caught them in the act. Meanwhile, the number of people reported injured rose to 80, including children.

 

Colonel Pramote Prom-in, spokesman of the regional Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said the footage showed two men park the pickup carrying explosives at the entrance of the Big C store and two others riding a motorcycle waiting for them at the front of the store.

 

A security source said authorities identified the four after checking files of suspects connected to security-related crimes as well as other evidence.

 

“We believe that the Pattani attackers can be linked to two others suspects, Abdulloh Samae and Harim Dolloh. Arrest warrants were issued for Abdulloh for a car-bomb explosion in Pattani on February 26, 2016 and for Harim after a blast at a Southern View Hotel in the province on August 24, 2016,” the source said.

 

Investigators said evidence showed the bombers had mixed 100 kilograms of ammonia nitrate with petrol and then packed the mixture in two gas cylinders that were hidden in the stolen pickup. They said preliminary evidence led them to believe that the attacks were the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional movement, or BRN, and could be linked to a bomb attack on a market in Pattani’s Muang Pattani municipality on October 24. One person was killed and 20 others injured in that attack.

 

Pattani police chief Pol Maj-General Piyawat Chalermsri has ordered an investigation into the whereabouts of Nuson Kajornkam, the owner of the pickup, who was still missing yesterday. 

 

Meanwhile, Isoc Colonel Peerawatch Sangthong said he personally condemned the Pattani attack as being the most wicked act imaginable as women and children were among the injured.

 

 “Video footage from security cameras at the scene clearly shows the culprits, so it is expected that we will catch them soon,” Peerawatch said.

 

Army commander in chief General Chalermchai Sittisart has personally ordered the arrest of the attackers to bring them to justice as soon as possible. Security agencies have been put on high alert and ordered to collect intelligence to prevent future attacks.

 

The public was required to cooperate with officials in the hunt for the attackers, Peerawatch said, calling for ordinary people to be the eyes and ears for authorities to solve the crime.

 

He also praised security guards at the Big C store for their decision to evacuate people from the store after the first bomb blast. Their acts helped minimise the number of injured people, he said.

 

Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre’s secretary-general Supanat Siranthawineti also denounced the attack.

 

Supanat said the attackers had stolen the pickup of a Thai Buddhist who worked in legitimate jobs, turned it into a car bomb and attacked a store where a large crowd of Thai Muslims were shopping. “What they did ravaged innocent people,” he said.

 

The centre will compensate people who were injured in the attack according to the law and give two student uniforms to each parent who was affected by the bombs.

 

Authorities believed the attackers intended “mass killing” since the car bomb was parked at the only entrance of the store and the initial explosion seemed intended to drive shoppers towards the exit. The first explosion was triggered by big firecrackers inside the store, sparking a panic that forced people towards the second bomb.

 

Meanwhile, students at Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani campus have been warned to avoid crowded places in the wake of the attack.

 

University deputy rector Imjit Lertpongsombat also offered condolences to the injured and others affected by the bombing. She urged students and university staff to monitor news about unrest in the region but to avoid panicking. People were also told to be more cautious about their surroundings and to avoid crowded places.

 

One student who asked not to be named said she was saddened by the attack in her hometown. “The people who did this are really mean – they hurt many innocent people,” she said. 

 

Another student, Rohani Yeedam, said the attackers wanted to demonstrate their ability and create chaos to draw public attention. “They obviously wanted to kill innocent people. Otherwise they wouldn’t have planted the bomb outside a Big C store.”

 

The Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Department has dispatched a team of psychiatrists to assist the victims of the bombing.

 

Dr Boonruang Triruangworawat, the department’s director-general, said Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn had ordered a team from Songkhlarajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital and the Mental Health 12 Centre to go to the province.

 

Boonruang said the team would examine people who witnessed the attack for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314844

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-11

[davehowden]

"He also praised security guards at the Big C store for their decision to evacuate people from the store after the first bomb blast. Their acts helped minimise the number of injured people, he said. "

 

"The first explosion was triggered by big firecrackers inside the store, sparking a panic that forced people towards the second bomb."

 

Seems that if everybody had stayed put inside the store nobody would have been injured ??

[colinneil]

I can never understand why the authorities always name the suspects in serious crimes.

Tell the world we will catch them soon.

Why not shut up, get them caught quietly then tell the world about it.

Naming them forewarns them, gives them time to disappear.

[Mickmouse1]

Why didn't they hunt them before?

[fruitman]

5 minutes ago, Mickmouse1 said:

Why didn't they hunt them before?

The wait for  the bounty to be set, a million cash like the erawan case.

[Orton Rd]

strange, usually the cameras don't work or the footage disappears 

[williamgeorgeallen]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

I can never understand why the authorities always name the suspects in serious crimes.

Tell the world we will catch them soon.

Why not shut up, get them caught quietly then tell the world about it.

Naming them forewarns them, gives them time to disappear.

it seems it is more important to be seen to know what is going on than to actually catch the perps. seems they rarely ever catch some one and prosecute them for these bombings.

[Moti24]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

I can never understand why the authorities always name the suspects in serious crimes.

Tell the world we will catch them soon.

Why not shut up, get them caught quietly then tell the world about it.

Naming them forewarns them, gives them time to disappear.

Naming the suspects is bad enough, but publishing the ingredients for the bomb is just asking for trouble!  Has nobody got any sense!

[wirat69]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattani suspects identified
By THE NATION

Hmmmm... RTP cannot do their job!!! Or is The Nation branching out from news reporting?? hahahahaha 

 

[ikke]

Never knew how to make a bomb, now we all do ..... they ask the public to not show clips on the web, but they post the names of the suspects and the ingredients of the bomb....... how stupid can one be...

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Army commander in chief General Chalermchai Sittisart has personally ordered the arrest of the attackers

Give the guy a cookie.

[mercman24]

funny , i posted before, who in their right mind would blow up their own vehicle, how come the driver is still missing , or this scum have killed him, cops say the vehicle was stolen how do they know that when the owner cannot be found,pissing in the wind as usual. well we all know their names now, and so do the wrondoers, this lot just cant keep their gobs shut can they.

[Eric Loh]

So the 2 suspects are already on the wanted list and they couldn't catch them which allow them to perpetrate another hideous crime. That speak poorly of the military competency. What chance they can arrest those perpetrators this time. 

[fruitman]

I'm still waiting for the big WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE posters to show up.  They know who did it and they did it before....no time to waste i would think.

 

The only way the government can save face now is by arresting them fast and hard punishment.

[fxe1200]

3 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

strange, usually the cameras don't work or the footage disappears 

 

...only in Bangkok at places where and when it is convenient, and on Koh Tao for sure.

[Old Croc]

I note the word "Terrorists" is anathema here.

The "attackers" were quickly identified because they're already on the wanted list for previous bombings. Doesn't inspire confidence they will be apprehended now.

[oldsailor35]

"Video from security cameras clearly shows the culprits, so we will catch them soon"   But they have had warrants  out against them for 12 months and not been caught yet !

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

They said preliminary evidence led them to believe that the attacks were the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional movement, or BRN

The largest and best-armed insurgent group that the military has chosen to bypass in peace talks.

Thus likely to encourage more BNR initiated violence.

[Golden Triangle]

A quick google search of ANFO Ammonium Nitrate & Fuel Oil will also bring up the recipe, the terrorists generally use diesel, it was the favourite mix used by the IRA in Northern Ireland and the UK mainland for many years.   

 

That's why the British Army used to search farms and such like places as any fertilizer over a specific Ammonium content was illegal to have.

Edited May 11, 2017 by Golden Triangle
Extra info

[halloween]

8 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The largest and best-armed insurgent group that the military has chosen to bypass in peace talks.

Thus likely to encourage more BNR initiated violence.

Actively maintaining a bombing campaign aimed at civilians is an obvious indicator that they want to be included in peace talks. Since when did they NEED encouragement?

[steven100]

i can see news coming ....  bombers shot dead while trying to escape ...

 

Good they have been identified ...  now go shoot em '

[halloween]

6 hours ago, davehowden said:

"He also praised security guards at the Big C store for their decision to evacuate people from the store after the first bomb blast. Their acts helped minimise the number of injured people, he said. "

 

"The first explosion was triggered by big firecrackers inside the store, sparking a panic that forced people towards the second bomb."

 

Seems that if everybody had stayed put inside the store nobody would have been injured ??

Earlier reports indicated that security stopped people rushing out the front doors.

[iolaus]

I can never understand why the authorities always name the suspects in serious crimes.
Tell the world we will catch them soon.
Why not shut up, get them caught quietly then tell the world about it.
Naming them forewarns them, gives them time to disappear.

In events like this, either their names are revealed, or their passport is found in a convenient location after a short time. Beats me too!

Sent fra min HUAWEI CAM-L21 via Tapatalk

[Megasin1]

Homemade bombs maiming innocent people, an act of utter cowardice !! Kids shopping for school uniforms - what sort of a depraved mind plans such a thing with the intent to harm children ? Hopefully these bombers have caused more damage to whatever belief drives them to such acts and someone has the sense to turn them in. The military and police seem to have a better chance that either, they will blow themselves up (a quite frequent occurrence for bomb makers), or someone will grass them up, than actually catching them.

Produce photos of suspects, issue photos of suspects to all those roadblocks they have everywhere, place in 7/11 windows, offer small reward, observe known relatives, they won't be free for long.....its not rocket science !!!

A cynical me would suggest that all the victims should take out a class action against the police for negligence in allowing known suspects to run around freely, however the better me just hopes that the police could become at least a bit more professional in their endeavours.

[clockman]

Frightening to think if these terrorists, ever got organized. Then Thailand would in big trouble! Because they no idea how to deal with this?

[hhinhh]

The act was wicket because children and womed were injured. Certainly but does it mean everyone can attact innocent men? I think everybody has the right not to be injured by anyone!

[tandor]

On 5/11/2017 at 7:36 AM, Orton Rd said:

strange, usually the cameras don't work or the footage disappears 

...ala MaeHongSon to Bangkok in an ox cart aeroplane evidence is bound to get lost on the way.

Edited May 12, 2017 by tandor

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, Megasin1 said:

all the victims should take out a class action against the police for negligence in allowing known suspects to run around freely

Therein is one of the flaws in Thai justice. The victims could be charged by the police for defamation and violation of Computer laws if they post such accusations in the internet. Or in the alternative kidnapped by the military under Article 44 and held for an attitude adjustment for potentially causing national conflict and harm to the nation's reputation through their accusations.

 

Be mindful that the police currently operate under the authority of the military junta (NCPO) through the Ministry of Justice headed by former Deputy NCPO Chief General Paiboon Koomchaya . If the victims are truly brave about bringing a complaint, they might better sacrifice themselves by directly taking their complaint to the NCPO who controls all law enforcement activities in the southern provinces.