Narathiwat and Pattani: Insurgents Launch Deadly Attacks
A wave of violence swept through Thailand’s Narathiwat province on Saturday night, leaving at least three dead and a trail of destruction. Coordinated attacks, attributed to insurgents, targeted government buildings, critical infrastructure, and public spaces, plunging the border city of Sungai Kolok into chaos.
The assaults began around 7:10 p. m. when a pickup truck carrying heavily armed individuals, clad in black Islamic Dawah clothing, arrived at the Sungai Kolok district office. Attackers unleashed a barrage of bombs and gunfire, killing two defense volunteers and injuring at least 11 others, including three civilians. The assailants then fled, scattering suspected explosives to deter pursuit. Security camera footage captured the ensuing chaos of gunfire and explosions, as people fled the area.
Further attacks followed swiftly. At approximately 7:28 p. m., a bomb detonated near southern railway tracks in Sungai Kolok. Two minutes later, another explosion rocked a Big C retail mall. While the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has not disclosed details of these explosive devices, their impact sent shockwaves through the community.
Authorities immediately warned residents to remain indoors. On Sunday, the Narathiwat Public Relations Office issued an urgent appeal for blood donations for the wounded, directing donors to Sungai Kolok Hospital. Roads to the district office and other affected areas remained closed Sunday as security forces assessed the damage and investigated.
The violence extended beyond Sungai Kolok. In Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district, a bomb damaged electricity poles at 7:52 p. m. Another undetonated bomb was discovered on a power pole in Waeng district around 3 a. m. Sunday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these incidents.
Neighboring Pattani province was also targeted. Insurgents ambushed a patrol of rangers and local officials in Sai Buri district. While the initial ambush caused no casualties, a subsequent bomb blast killed one ranger and injured two assistant village chiefs.
Fourth Army commander Lt. Gen. Paisan Noosang ordered all security units to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. Security alerts were raised throughout Narathiwat province, especially in Sungai Kolok and Sungai Padi. Authorities are working to restore normalcy.
These attacks, occurring during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, cast a shadow over the period of reflection and prayer. They followed a February 23rd visit to Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Acting as an advisor on ASEAN affairs to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Mr. Shinawatra expressed optimism for resolving the region’s long-standing unrest—his first visit to the area in nearly two decades.
The attacks serve as a grim reminder of the persistent security challenges in southern Thailand and the region’s complex dynamics. While authorities work to restore order and bring perpetrators to justice, these incidents have heightened anxieties and underscored the urgent need for lasting peace.
