Two injured by blast in Pattani after being lured
A BOMB blast in Pattani province yesterday morning injured an assistant village head and a village-protection volunteer who were lured to the scene by a suspicious pickup.
The vehicle matched the description of a Mazda pickup at the centre of a fatal car-jacking in Songkhla province on Sunday.
Maronee Malae, a 42-year-old assistant village head, and Matrusdil Sohman, 45-year-old village-protection volunteer, noticed the pickup in their hometown yesterday and decided to investigate. But as they approached and were about 50 metres from the vehicle, a bomb hidden nearby exploded, slightly injuring them.
Maronee had bruises around his right hand, face and body. He also suffered tightness in the chest and ringing in his ear. Matrusdil suffered tightness in the chest and ringing in his ear.
Police believe the explosion was staged to fan unrest in the deep South, which has seen bloody incidents almost every day over more than a decade.
Explosive ordinance disposal officials put off checking on the pickup until today, as they suspect the vehicle may be laden with bombs, so those who work on it must be extra careful.
