NARATHIWAT, April 28 — Security personnel in Thailand’s southernmost provinces have stepped up security measures as insurgent groups may stage violent attacks to mark the tenth anniversary of the Krue Se mosque incident.
Police and soldiers stationed at a checkpoint at Ban Phong Yue Rai in the Yala provincial seat and at Malayu Bangkok checkpoint on Sukhayang Road to inspect vehicles or suspicious persons, particularly those under arrest warrants.
Special attention was given to eight stolen pickup trucks which may be used to extend violence in the southern provinces.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the April 28, 2004 Krue Se incident in which 32 people were killed in clashes between authorities and suspected insurgents at a Pattani mosque.
In Narathiwat, police were on high alert in all 13 districts and were coordinating with the military and administrative staff to set up checkpoints.
In the nearby province of Songkhla, checkpoints were set up and authorities in four districts connected to the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat were specially checking suspect vehicles and persons.
