SATUN – Three school students were injured, one of them seriously, in a bomb explosion in Satun province, while a series of bomb attacks were also reported in Yala and Songkhla provinces from last night until this morning.
Provincial Police Region 9 Commander Police Lieutenant-General Piyawat Chalermsi said a bomb believed to have been planted near an electricity pole in the Ban Khiriwong area of Satun exploded at about 7am today, hitting a van carrying more than 10 school students.
"All the victims were rushed to Thung Wa Hospital for treatment, while the road was temporarily closed to allow authorities to conduct inspections and investigations," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, eight bombing and arson incidents were reported in five districts of Yala at about 9pm last night, targeting local administrative offices, government vehicles and public facilities.
Yala Police Chief Police Major-General Sakda Charengkul said the attacks involved bombings and arson at subdistrict administrative buildings, as well as the burning of tyres, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, telecommunications transmission towers and vehicles belonging to local authorities.
"In one incident in Mueang Yala district, a group of masked and armed men detained five security guards, tied their hands and attacked a subdistrict administrative building," he said.
Sakda said the attacks caused extensive damage to government buildings and property, including fire engines, garbage trucks, four-wheel-drive vehicles and several other government vehicles.
In Songkhla, three high-voltage electricity pylons were also targeted in bomb explosions in the Sadao, Chana and Na Mom districts at about 7am today, causing the structures to collapse and obstructing traffic.
No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incidents.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks, and Thai authorities are continuing their investigations. –BERNAMA