M'sians Warned To Avoid Travelling To Southern Thailand Following Bomb Blast In Betong
The blast in the popular tourist town of Betong has left two people dead and 36 injured. Firefighters struggled to extinguish the flames as thick, black smoke poured into the sky. Police say they believe southern separatists were behind the attack.
By Sadho Ram — 26 Jul 2014, 01:05 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
On Friday, 25 July, A Car Bomb Exploded Outside A Hotel In Insurgency-Wracked Southern Thailand, Killing At Least Two People And Injuring 36 Others, The Star Reports
At least two people have been killed and 36 others injured in a car bomb explosion outside a hotel in a commercial district in southern Thailand, police have said.
aljazeera.comThe Explosives Were Hidden In A Truck Parked Across From The Hotel Holiday In Yala Province's Betong District. At Least Three Of The Injured Were In Critical Condition.
"A car bomb went off in front of Holiday Hill Hotel at around 4pm (0900 GMT)", Lieutenant Colonel Sophon Saisuree told AFP by telephone. Of the wounded, three were in critical condition, he said.
thestar.com.myAccording To Bangkok Post, The Explosion Damaged The Hotel Building, Vehicles In The Area And Sparked A Fire In A House And A Convenience Store. The Area Was Locked Down While Security Officials And Rescue Workers Helped The Wounded.
Yala governor Dejrat Simsiri was quoted as saying that the casualities were high because a fruit fair was being held in the area. The dead were identified as Miss Pennapa Toonhor, 23, and Mr Decho Dareeyoh. Most of those injured people were Betong residents.
bangkokpost.com
Authorities reported later that the bomb was planted in the truck bearing the plate number Bor Khor 8594 Betong. The explosion also caused a blackout and local people said it was the first violent explosion in downtown Betong in years. The attack was launched when local security guards were changing their shift, said Col Banpote Pulpian, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).
therakyatpost.com
At Least One Of The Injured Was A Malaysian
A Foreign Ministry spokesman told Bernama, the ministry was still waiting for a report from the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok on the status of the injured victim. “We are still waiting fro more information on the individual,” he said.
therakyatpost.com
There Has Been No Immediate Claim Of Responsibility But Suspicion Was Likely To Fall On Muslim Insurgents Waging A Decade-Long Campaign Against The Thai State, The Star Reported
Firemen trying to stop the flames from spreading at the site where a car bomb exploded outside a hotel at Betong district in Thailand's southern province of Yala on July 25, 2014.
Image via fbcdn.netMore than 6,100 people have been killed in near-daily bombings and shootings in the Muslim-majority region near Thailand's southern border with Malaysia since 2004. Buddhists and Muslims alike fall victim to the shadowy insurgents, who target security forces, civilians and perceived representatives of state authority.
thestar.com.myPeace talks between some rebel factions and the Thai authorities stalled as a political crisis erupted in Bangkok last year, culminating in a coup in May by the army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha. The militants have demanded a level of autonomy from Thailand.
thenews.com.pkPolice Said They Had Been On Heightened Alert For Possible Attacks In The Region Towards The End Of The Fasting Month Of Ramadan
Despite the increased vigilance, the authorities admitted that they were taken by surprise by the magnitude of the attack.
therakyatpost.com
"We did not expect unrest to cause as much damage in Betong as this," said Colonel Banphot Phunphian, spokesman for the military's Internal Security Operations Command. "These are the last three days of Ramadan so General Prayut ordered us to keep an especially 'close eye' on the situation in the south," he added.
thestar.com.myMeanwhile, Inspector-General Of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Has Warned Malaysians To Avoid Travelling To Southern Thailand
Police have advised Malaysians to avoid travelling to southern Thailand following the latest explosion that rocked the region on Friday. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic) tweeted the warning today evening following a car bomb explosion outside a hotel.
thestar.com.my"I advise Malaysians not to go to southern Thailand. The situation is dangerous and volatile," he tweeted.
therakyatpost.com