One killed and 13 injured in two bomb blasts in Narathiwat, Thailand's restive southern province

NARATHIWAT (Bernama): One person was killed and 13 others, including a police officer, were injured in two bomb explosions in the Jok Irong and Sukhirin districts of Narathiwat, southern Thailand, early this morning.

Region 9 Police Chief, Maj. Gen. Pol. Piyawat Chalermsi, said the first bomb explosion occurred at 7:20 am, 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 the police's initial investigation 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 8:10 am, 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 police officer 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