NARATHIWAT: One person was killed and 13 others, including a policeman, were wounded in two bomb explosions in the Jok Irong and Sukhirin districts of Narathiwat, southern Thailand, this morning.
Region 9 police chief Major-General Piyawat Chalermsi said the first bomb explosion occurred at 7.20am, targeting defence volunteers who were patrolling the roads in Jok Irong.
"Six defence volunteers were injured in the first incident and were taken to Jok Irong Hospital for emergency treatment," he said in a statement here today.
He said initial investigations at the scene found bomb fragments that had been placed in a gas cylinder by the roadside.
In the second explosion, Piyawat said the bomb, which was planted by the roadside in Kampung Air Jambu, Sukhirin district, exploded at 8.10am, injuring seven defence volunteers.
"The seven injured members were sent to Sukhirin Hospital for treatment, while a 41-year-old defence volunteer passed away at noon at the hospital," he said.
Piyawat added that a policeman from the bomb disposal unit was seriously injured while investigating the incident after stepping on a bomb planted by the roadside in Sukhirin.
"The officer, who suffered severe leg injuries, had to be transferred from Sukhirin Hospital to Songkhla Nakharin Hospital in Hatyai by helicopter for further treatment," he said.
However, he added that so far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. — Bernama