Pattani: More unrest has struck southern Thailand. In Yala province, a bomb exploded in front of a school this morning, injuring three people. Meanwhile, in Pattani, late last night, assailants brazenly abducted security guards and detonated a bomb inside the Nong Chik biomass power plant. Authorities remain cordoned off the area.
According to Thai News Agency, at approximately 00:40 AM, an unknown number of armed assailants stormed a biomass power plant in Pattani, restraining security guards and ordering all employees to gather near the plant's entrance to restrict their movement. The attackers then planted three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at various locations within the power plant before retreating and detonating them approximately three minutes apart. The explosions caused damage to electrical equipment and the building. This morning, police and military personnel have cordoned off the area to investigate and clear the scene before bomb disposal experts and forensic teams arrive. The Pattani-Yala road has also been closed. This incident is reminiscent of previous bombings targeting power plants, where attackers have planted multiple explosives to target security personnel inspecting the area.
This morning at 8:28 AM, unknown assailants planted an improvised explosive device (IED) in a drainage pipe under the road in front of Ban Pulai School, Baloh Subdistrict, Raman District, Yala Province. When seven police officers from Special Operations Unit 12 drove by to provide security for teachers and students, the assailants detonated the bomb, causing their pickup truck to overturn and damaging a villager's motorcycle. Two officers and one villager were injured.
Following the incident, the Governor of Yala and the Commander of Provincial Police Region 9 convened an urgent meeting of security agencies and instructed them to exercise caution during the investigation of the scene to prevent the area from being lured into further attacks.