Security forces captured one suspect after a fierce gun-battle behind the historical Krue Se mosque in Pattani with a group of gunmen suspected to be responsible for an attack that killed four defence volunteers at a school earlier in the day.
The suspects were hiding in an area behind the famous ancient mosque which is dotted with many fish ponds. Troop reinforcements were later dispatched to the scene to comb the area for suspected militants with surveillance planes flying overhead.
The arrested suspect was identified as Makri Esor-puteh, a resident of Sabayoi district of Songkhla province. Security forces also seized one stolen motorcycle, one tricycle, survival kits, rice and dried food in his possession.
Military sources said the suspected militants robbed two motorcycles from villagers and used them in their escape bid. Army uniforms used by the suspects to disguise themselves as troops in the fatal shooting of the volunteers at a school in Yarang district in the morning were found dumped near a klong.
The Krue Se mosque is about 10 kilometres from the school where the four volunteers were gunned down. Disguising themselves as army troops, the gunmen surprised a unit of defence volunteers at the school in and killed them before taking away their assault rifles.
The violent incident occurred this morning in the compound of Ban Pukoh school in Village 5, Tambon Prachan, where four defence volunteers were assigned to provide protection to the teachers.
The shooting incident shocked and caused panic among teachers and students who screamed in horror as they scrambled for cover. The school was later ordered closed and all the students sent home.
