NARATHIWAT, Thailand – Southern Thailand has been rocked by a series of explosions, with four bombs detonating near a school in Narathiwat province early morning (Nov 21).
The blasts occurred shortly after 4:30 am at a traffic island in front of Ban Hutaetuwor School in Muang district. Three initial explosions were followed by a fourth about 10 minutes later.
Authorities reported no casualties, but the area remains cordoned off as a precautionary measure.
The incident follows a report of suspicious objects, believed to be explosives, found near a road in Muang district around 11 pm the previous night. Bomb disposal units and forensic experts are now meticulously examining the blast sites.
As a result of the explosions, the school and a neighboring school have been temporarily closed to allow for a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that the bombs were concealed in garbage bags and were detonated by timers. There were no apparent shrapnel, suggesting a lack of intent to cause casualties.
Investigators have obtained CCTV footage showing four men on two motorcycles arriving at the scene around 11 pm. The men were seen placing the explosives before fleeing.
Authorities suspect the attacks were carried out by a new generation of insurgents seeking to test the authorities’ capabilities and create unrest rather than inflicting casualties.
The latest incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Thailand’s southern border provinces, where a decades-long insurgency has claimed thousands of lives. (TNA)
