Bangkok: Unrest in southern Thailand intensifies as a group of gunmen executed a well-planned attack involving a bomb and a subsequent shooting, resulting in the deaths of two auxiliary police officers and injuries to sixteen others in the Sukhirin district of Narathiwat province. The assault occurred while the officers were returning from a rowing competition.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident took place at 2:52 PM on September 18, 2026. Pol. Col. Prapot Lomkhet, Superintendent of Sukhirin Police Station, received a report detailing the ambush that targeted the volunteer defense personnel in Bulukayaing Village, Moo 2, Rom Sai Subdistrict. The attack involved the detonation of a 50 kg gas cylinder bomb followed by gunfire, leading to casualties and damage to a vehicle. Law enforcement and military personnel quickly arrived at the scene to investigate the incident.
The attack resulted in a white six-wheeled Isuzu truck overturning, with several officers trapped beneath. Emergency services swiftly attended to the injured, transporting them to Sukhirin Hospital. Nearby, authorities discovered an explosion crater measuring 2 meters deep and 3 meters wide, along with remnants of the improvised explosive device. The detonator was missing, and debris was scattered around the area.
The casualties from the incident included 16 injured and 2 deceased officers. Among the injured were Private Sulaiman Nakwarin, Private Rudi Sawa, and several others, with some suffering serious injuries. Tragically, Private Irin Kaewrawang and Private Nattanant Kaewsupothi were confirmed deceased. Volunteer Amnan Suding was critically injured in the attack.
Investigations indicated that the attack occurred as 18 members of the Territorial Defense Volunteers were traveling back to their base in a six-wheeled truck from a boat racing event at the Narathiwat City Fair. As the truck passed by the ambush site, insurgents detonated the explosive device hidden beneath the road surface, causing the vehicle to overturn. The attackers then opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the Territorial Defense Volunteers before fleeing the scene.
Authorities suspect that the attack was a retaliatory act by insurgents following the deaths of two bomb-making suspects during a shootout on September 9, 2026, in the Tawe mountain range. The deceased suspects were identified as Mr. Useng Mama and Mr. Useng Cheming, both from Narathiwat Province.