Suspected insurgents blew up an Islamic Bank of Thailand ATM in Yarang district of the southern province of Pattani on Monday night, but they were unable to steal money from the machine. They did, however, steal two shotguns from the security guards.
Police in Yarang district reported that a group of about five suspected insurgents arrived at an Islamic university in Khao Toom sub-district, detained two security guards in front of the campus and tied them up before they went to the ATM and blew it up with explosives.
They could not, however, open the machine to steal the money it contained, so they fled the scene, taking the two stolen shotguns with them.
This latest robbery attempt follows a daring heist at a gold shop in a shopping mall in Su-Ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat on Sunday night, by a group of about 20 hooded and armed men, believed to be insurgents.
The gang shot and wounded an army officer during the raid and escaped with gold ornaments worth about 34 million baht. Some of the suspects have reportedly fled to Malaysia.
