Narathiwat, Thailand — Security forces in Thailand’s southern border provinces are tightening safety measures following a series of deadly attacks that claimed the lives of five security personnel and volunteers while injuring 13 others. The twin attacks, which occurred on Saturday night in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district and Pattani’s Sai Buri district, have prompted an urgent review of security protocols.
Lt. Gen. Paisan Nusang, Commander of the 4th Army Region and Director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, visited the affected areas on March 9 to assess the damage and oversee immediate response efforts. Speaking after an emergency meeting with military, police, and administrative officials at the Sungai Kolok Police Station, he outlined a revised security strategy aimed at preventing further incidents.
Investigators at the Sungai Kolok blast site found remnants of a bronze Toyota sedan rigged as a car bomb. The vehicle, parked in front of the district office’s auditorium, housed a 100-kilogram cooking gas cylinder filled with explosives and was detonated via radio signal. The explosion caused significant damage within a 100-meter radius, impacting several buildings, including the revenue department office, a fire engine garage, an apartment complex behind the district office, and multiple official vehicles.
“This attack was meticulously planned,” Lt. Gen. Paisan noted. “The perpetrators were likely active in the area for some time before Ramadan, possibly linked to groups from Sungai Padi district. We must reassess our intelligence strategies and reinforce security, especially for operational bases and volunteer personnel.”
He dismissed suggestions that the attacks were linked to peace dialogue efforts or administrative issues, instead highlighting the importance of intelligence improvements. While violent incidents in the region have traditionally spiked in the last 10 days of Ramadan due to extremist misinterpretations of religious beliefs, this attack occurring early in the holy month signals an urgent need for increased vigilance.
Lt. Gen. Paisan urged the public to assist authorities by reporting suspicious activities and later visited the injured at Sungai Kolok Hospital, commending their courage and presenting them with gifts.
In Bangkok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, returning from Germany on March 9, expressed condolences to the victims’ families upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport. She called for immediate reinforcements to security forces, particularly during nighttime hours, and emphasized the need for measures to maintain public confidence and psychological security.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed all local security agencies to intensify safety operations. This includes 24-hour surveillance of district offices, government buildings, and military bases, along with strict vehicle inspections and record-keeping of all movements in and out of the area. Unauthorized vehicles near government facilities will be prohibited, and all suspicious activity must be reported without delay.
“As we observe the month of Ramadan, a time of peace for our Muslim brothers and sisters, all officers must remain exceptionally cautious,” Anutin stated. “District volunteer commanders and subdistrict protection chiefs must ensure safety throughout the holy month and beyond.”
The Thai government is now working to strengthen its counterinsurgency efforts in the southern provinces while addressing long-standing security challenges in the region.
