Pattani: The province of Pattani is once again in turmoil after a group of at least 15 armed assailants launched a coordinated attack on the Pho Ming Subdistrict Municipality office in Panare District, setting fires and detonating explosives. The attack, which occurred around 9:00 PM, resulted in significant damage to the municipal property.
According to Thai News Agency, the attackers initially subdued a municipal security guard before spreading out to carry out their destructive mission. The assailants, believed to be white-faced insurgents, approached the building from a wooded area, restraining the security guards with cable ties. They proceeded to target the parking lot, smashing car windows and setting four vehicles ablaze. The vehicles destroyed included a fire truck, a garbage truck, an office pickup truck, and an ambulance.
Another group of attackers focused on the office building itself, using gasoline to set it on fire. Although officials managed to extinguish the blaze before it consumed the entire structure, the attack left significant damage. Additionally, an improvised explosive device was planted at the guard post, detonating about half an hour after the assailants retreated, causing further damage and scattering shrapnel.
In response to the attack, authorities have cordoned off the area to ensure safety and prevent any further incidents. They are awaiting forensic and bomb disposal units to conduct a thorough examination of the site. Early investigations suggest that this attack is linked to a known insurgent group that has been active in the region, with the involvement of undocumented individuals who act as lookouts and assist in these operations.
The coordinated attack in Pattani is part of a series of incidents involving at least 80 perpetrators across the three southern border provinces, all orchestrated to create unrest. Authorities continue to gather evidence, including CCTV footage, to identify and apprehend those responsible for this latest act of violence.