At least one police officer was killed and ten others injured by a car bomb at a police apartment block in Mueang district of Thailand’s restive southern province of Narathiwat at around noon today (Tuesday).
Initial reports say that a man, dressed as a police officer, drove a pickup truck into the compound of the police apartment building on Suriyapradit Road and immediately left the scene. Shortly afterward, a device, concealed in or near the car, exploded.
Fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene, which was quickly cordoned off.
There are reports of several civilians also being injured.
Pol Maj-Gen Archayon Kraithong, the spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said that Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, the national police chief, immediately flew to Narathiwat to visit the injured police officer and to follow up on the situation.
The police apartment block is located only about 200 metres from the provincial hall and opposite a school.
The attack is being regarded, by some, as one of the worst and most daring undertaken by insurgents in the past few years.
