BANGKOK: Authorities investigating three bombings that killed two people and injured 80 in Thailand’s restive south said yesterday they had an image of a bombing suspect taken from a security camera.
The attacks, which injured four foreigners, were followed yesterday afternoon by a bombing in Yala province that injured four soldiers including one seriously.
The bombings come after a week of efforts to reduce tension in southernmost Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, where almost daily violence has claimed more than 630 lives since January last year.
The Hat Yai airport bombing suspect’s picture was captured on closed circuit television on Sunday, Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Vantana told reporters but declined to give any further details.
The airport bomb killed two people. Two other bombs exploded almost simultaneously at a Carrefour supermarket and a hotel in the city in the Songkhla province, which until Sunday had been spared the serious violence that has wracked the three neighbouring regions.
Thai officials vowed yesterday to boost airport security to levels already in force in Bangkok.
“The air force will co-operate with the aviation department and the airport authority of Thailand to strengthen measures to provide security for airports, especially in Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket where there are many tourists,” Kongsak said, adding: “There is nothing to worry about in Bangkok as we are already strict on security.”
Interior minister Chidchai Vanasathidya said the justice ministry had dispatched teams from its special investigation department to help local police.
Chidchai vowed to implement the same stringent security measures used for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit here in 2003 to deter future attacks.
“To make people confident about security, we will bring back security measures used during Apec meeting and adjust it to focus on combat intelligence,” he said.
Yesterday’s bomb exploded at about 1pm (0600 GMT) at a car park in a Yala technical college where an army car was parked.
“It is possible that the attackers aimed to attack soldiers as the area was a stand-by point for soldiers,” said Yala police general Sirichai Thanyasiri.
The bomb was not likely linked with Sunday’s attacks “as the violence in the three provinces has been going on for a while,” Sirichai said.
The Hat Yai bombings have sparked fears insurgents are trying to broaden their campaign from the three provinces bordering Malaysia.
Security forces have erected checkpoints along main roads in southern Thailand, including on a key highway on the tourist isle of Phuket.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his government would not use force to retaliate against the perpetrators of bombings, and declined to specifically blame the Islamic separatists for the blasts.
“Even though the attackers use violence, the government will maintain its peaceful measures,” Thaksin told reporters in Bangkok. – AFP |
