BANGKOK: Bomb-disposal officers operating in the southern border provinces joined an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit from Narathiwat Provincial Police, Narathiwat forensic science officers and a sniffer-dog team on Monday (Aug 24) for an 11am inspection of the railway bombing site at kilometre marker 1,090.
The site was on the section between Marubo and Tanyong Mat stations in Moo 1 of Maruebo Tok subdistrict, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat.
It was one of 40 locations where attackers had planted bombs on the night of Saturday (Aug 22).
The incident prompted the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to announce the suspension of all train services from Sunday (Aug 23).
Before reaching the site, officers walked cautiously for about 1km along the railway from Marubo Station.
They determined that attackers had planted three timer-activated improvised bombs in picnic gas-cylinder containers, with a stated weight of 25kg.
One had been placed on the track and damaged two concrete sleepers and tore the rail, preventing all trains from passing.
The other two had been placed at an electricity pole beside a road running parallel to the railway, about 50 metres away, but the pole did not collapse.
Officers collected evidence at the scene, where at least six people were believed to have taken part in the attack.
The SRT revised Southern Line train operations following the bombing between Marubo and Tanyong Mat stations at kilometre marker 1,090.
The changes were to remain in place until officials repaired the track and restored normal operations within one or two days. - The Nation/ANN
