It's believed rebels carried out planned thefts and arson attacks on multiple places in the three troubled southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat early today.
The places targeted included 7-11 convenience stores, a crushing plant, cell towers, CCTV cameras, a road grader, a saw mill and a car. Some roads also had burning car tires, but no one was hurt or killed.
During one arson attack at a 7-11 convenience store in Muang district of Pattani, an employee told the police that three armed men fired shots into the air before entering the store and ordering all the employees to leave. One employee refused and a rebel threatened to shoot him.
After that, the rebels poured gasoline over the cashier’s counter and set it on fire, before fleeing on motorcycles.
Another 7-11 convenience store in Khok Pho district, in front of the district hospital, was also set on fire.
A sheet metal store in Muang district was set on fire and a car and construction materials were damaged.
In Narathiwat province, police reported that suspected insurgents targeted six places in Cho Airong, Waeng, Su-ngai Padi, Rue So and Si Sakhon districts. These included the burning of a ten-wheel truck and a forklift at a factory, the burning of four road graders on Su-ngai Padi-Su-ngai Kolok road, the burning of a saw mill and CCTV cameras.
