Security has been tightened up at banks, markets, convenience stores and government offices in 12 districts of Thailand’s southern province of Pattani after two explosions, which damaged an ATM in front of a university early this morning (Sunday).
Security officials in the province are blaming separatist insurgents for the attacks in front of Fahlorni University in Ba Sarong and on Road 409 in front of a school in Tambon Napradu in Yarang district between 12.20am and 2am. The perpetrators also burned car tires near the scene of the blast on Road 409.
No one was injured in the explosions.
Informed police sources say that the incidents were intended to cause panic among the public.
A Twitter user, who is believed to be a university student, tweeted that his hostel is not far away from the location of the two explosions and that they were very loud. He said, although he has heard several explosions before, he is still not used to it, adding that a university security guard might have some information about the perpetrators because he was tied up with a rope and assaulted before the explosions.
Pol Maj-Gen Piyawat Chalermsri, the provincial police commander, said that about 10 suspected separatist insurgents were involved in the incidents and they stole all the cash from the damaged ATM.
He added that he was not sure whether the incidents were linked to the recent explosions in Bangkok.
