Pickup used in deadly Narathiwat attack found torched

Army commander says 10 militants being sought for killing five rangers

NARATHIWAT – The pickup truck used in a deadly attack in Rangae district was found torched in another district of this southern province on Wednesday night, as the regional army commander ordered a hunt for the 10 armed men who killed five soldiers and injured six civilians.

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Security officials found the pickup in Ban Aijia village in tambon Sakor of Sri Sakhon district, 21 kilometres from the attack site in tambon Tanyong Mat of Rangae district, the Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) said on Thursday morning.

A burnt licence plate from Songkhla province was found at the fire scene. Forensic officials collected evidence from the pickup debris to identify suspects. The site of the fire was in an area where Rangae, Chanae and Sri Sakhon districts adjoin.

The Isoc forward command reported that about 10 attackers who wore black clothing and black hats on the pickup truck and a motorcycle arrived at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint in Tanyong Mat municipal area at 6.45pm on Wednesday.

The armed men fired guns and threw pipe bombs at the soldiers who were on duty at the checkpoint. The attackers also stole three AK-47 assault rifles, three bullet-proof vests and three mobile phones from the soldiers.

The public relations department of Narathiwat province said no group had claimed responsibility and no arrests have been made.

Members of the 45th Ranger Regiment Task Force killed in the attack were SM1 Theerayoot Somakerd and four volunteer rangers: Sakeereeya Jehna, Wimol Dapthong, Nathasit Kaeosena and Solahuding Pi.

The six injured civilians were identified as Habib Hina, 10; Muhammad Ali Abru, 67; Lanha Abru, 67; Muhammadhafit Hina, 15; Awatil Bueraheng, 3; and Masaifu Da-oh, 21.

Five of the injured people have been discharged from hospital. The 10-year-old boy was still being treated for a leg wound but his condition was stable, the provincial public relations department reported.

Lt Norathip Phoynok, the commander of the Fourth Army Area, inspected the attack scene at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint on Thursday morning. He ordered a quick hunt for the suspects, maximum security operations and assistance for the families of the dead soldiers.

The burning pickup

A Songkhla licence plate was found at the fire scene.

Fourth Army Area commander Lt-Gen Norathip Poynok (centre) inspects the attacked checkpoint on Thursday morning. (Photo: Isoc)