Pattani Governor Pateemoh Sadeeyamu has ordered tighter security for official vehicles, to prevent insurgents from using them in car bombings.
This change follows an incident in which attackers, equipped with explosives, used a vehicle stolen from the Ban Nambo Sub-district Administrative Organisation in Panare District.
The attackers parked the vehicle containing the explosives near Panare police station and detonated it shortly after midnight on October 4, causing extensive damage to the station, though no injuries were reported.
Security officials estimated that 100kg of explosives had been attached to the vehicle.
The governor, the first Muslim to hold the position, noted that the attackers placed the vehicle near the target only an hour after it had been stolen.
“Before, they would take about two days after stealing a vehicle to install the explosives. Now, it’s down to just an hour,” she said.
The blast also damaged a building within the police station compound, which served as classrooms for 19 children with special needs, shattering windows and doors.
The children have since continued their studies elsewhere.
