Attackers open fire and throw pipe bombs at security checkpoint in Narathiwat, injuring six civilians
Quick Look
- About 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at soldiers at a security checkpoint in Thailand's Narathiwat province, injuring six civilians, including a 10-year-old boy.
- The attackers stole rifles, vests, and phones before fleeing in a pickup truck, which was later found abandoned and burned.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Thailand's southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani have been the site of a Muslim separatist insurgency since 2004, which has resulted in thousands of deaths. Muslim residents in these majority-Muslim provinces have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens in the predominantly Buddhist nation.
About 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at soldiers at a security checkpoint near a residential area in Narathiwat province on Wednesday evening before fleeing, according to the regional Internal Security Operations Command. Six civilians were injured during the attack, including a 10-year-old boy who remains hospitalised in stable condition.
Photos released by authorities showed a group identified as the attackers, dressed in black clothing and hats and riding on the back of a black pickup truck at around 6.45pm. Security officials said the truck was later found abandoned and set on fire about 21km (13 miles) away from the scene.
They said the attackers had stolen three AK-47 rifles, three bulletproof vests and three mobile phones from the soldiers.
Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani are Thailand’s southernmost provinces and the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist nation. Since 2004, the provinces have been the site of a Muslim separatist insurgency that has killed thousands.
Muslim residents have long complained of being treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. Heavy-handed crackdowns have fuelled the discontent. Fighting continues to this day, but at a lower level.
Open Questions
- What was the specific motive for this particular attack?
- Have any of the attackers been identified or apprehended?
- What is the current condition of the injured civilians?
