Police inspect sites of insurgent attacks in Thai Far South

THAI FAR SOUTH, April 20 (TNA) - The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command has reported on a series of 13 suspected insurgent attacks in the Thai Far South, killing two people and injuring at least four others. According to the official report, issued on Thursday, the spate of grenade and shooting attacks occurred on Wednesday night in Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla Provinces, mainly at checkpoints and military outposts in 12 districts during 7:30-7:45pm. The report said that there were two deaths, who are suspected insurgents, while at least four other people were wounded. In Narathiwat, an unknown number of assailants threw grenades, fired M-79 grenades and carried out a shooting at 12 spots, including checkpoints, military outposts and houses in seven districts. A defense volunteer was shot while he was on duty to guard a train station in Sungai Padi District. In Songkhla, attacks occurred in three districts, including Sabayoi, where the two suspected insurgents were killed by their own explosive devices while being about to toss a five-kilogram pipe bomb at an outpost stationed by local defense volunteers. The duo were found dead at a motorcycle on a road, about 200 meters away from the outpost. Finding that the motorcycle belonged to an assistant village head who is believed to have linked with an insurgent group, local police were, thus, questioning the assistant village head. In Chana District, two assailants on a motorcycle tossed a grenade to a police booth outside the Chana Police Station, but it missed the target and there were no reports on any people killed or wounded. In Thepa District, suspected insurgents fired two M-79 grenades to a checkpoint, injuring a 28-year-old woman who was riding a motorcycle and passing through the checkpoint. In Pattani, suspected insurgents launched attacks in three districts, in which two officials were wounded. After the series of almost simultaneous attacks, local authorities have stepped up security measures to prevent any recurrence of such the attacks. (TNA)