View Full Version : Songkhla '7' Bombings:'Handsome' Malaysian arrested
Songkhla rocked by coordinated bomb attacks
Songkhla - At least 7 coordinated bomb attacks were launched in this southern border province Saturday evening, injuring at least two people.
Songkhla police chief Pol Maj Gen Wiroon Iamphaijit said five attacks were made in Muang district and two others in Hat Yai.
The bombs were planted near three convenient stores, a restaurant, and three ATM booths, he said.
They were detonated nearly at the same time.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079623
August 03, 2008 00:14 AM
Seven Bombs Explode In Songkla, Hatyai
BANGKOK, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Seven bombs exploded in the Thai southern cities of Songkla and Hatyai Saturday night.
In the incidents, at least two people were injured, a Thai police spokesman said when contacted.
He said five bombs exploded in Songkla and two more in Hatyai, mostly near hotels, restaurants and a school.
So far, there has been no report of Malaysian casualties.
Songkla and Hatyai, famous for their entertainment outlets, are favourite haunts for Malaysian tourists during weekends.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=350233
Songkhla, Hat Yai bombs target 7-Elevens
Seven bombs have exploded near several 7-Eleven convenience stories in Songkhla province on Saturday, including two in Hat Yai, the biggest city in the South.
Police said the explosions wounded two passers-by - but there was no obvious reason to target the Thai-owned chain stores. They said they could not determine if the attacks were linked to the southern insurgency.
Five blasts went off in Muang district of Songkhla, a rare terrorist target, while two others were in Hat Yai, almost as unusual a place for southern violence.
The bombs were placed in trash cans near the convenience stories.
Most attacks in the South are in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani provinces, with only occasional violence reported in next-door Songkhla - and almost none in the chief town at all.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=129242
Thirteen teens detained for allegedly involving in seven bomb attacks in Songkhla
By The Nation
Thirteen suspects were detained in connection with the seven bomb attacks in Songkhla province, which injured three, on Saturday night.
The 13 suspects detained for further interrogation were teenagers from three deep south provinces. They told police that they were visiting Samila Beach for pleasure.
The army's spokesman Akra Thiprote said Sunday that four bomb attacks rocked the province's Muang district, slightly injuring two.
In Hat Yai district, three bomb attacks took place, no one injured. Initial investigation showed that they were small bombs.
The spokesman asked local people to stay update with the information from the authorities and asked them to report to the authorities if they had information.
"We believe that the insurgents wanted to cause chaos, not to kill anybody. They wanted to create chaos in the province which is a tourism destination and economically important to the region," the spokesman said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/08/03/national/national_30079628.php
The bombs were obviously small enough to be cleaned up in a very short time. I note that almost no one seems to know exactly where they happened, apart from vague comments like a 711 or a restaurant on Petchkasem Road. (I noted one, but saw no damage. Only the cordon tape and 2 policemen, skulking in the bushes, gave it away.) My guess is that the various owners are working OT to suppress info on the locations. Understandable perhaps!? The rumored numbers of bombs in Hat-Yai vary from 2 to 4, with either 4 or 5 bombs in Songkhla. NBT reported that one witness saw the bomb being planted in a trashcan and said that it would be possible for the witness to provide a description.
The bombs were obviously small enough to be cleaned up in a very short time. I note that almost no one seems to know exactly where they happened, apart from vague comments like a 711 or a restaurant on Petchkasem Road. (I noted one, but saw no damage. Only the cordon tape and 2 policemen, skulking in the bushes, gave it away.) My guess is that the various owners are working OT to suppress info on the locations. Understandable perhaps!? The rumored numbers of bombs in Hat-Yai vary from 2 to 4, with either 4 or 5 bombs in Songkhla. NBT reported that one witness saw the bomb being planted in a trashcan and said that it would be possible for the witness to provide a description.
There were vague reports of other attacks on Kanchanavanit Road and Rajyindee (Sam-Sip Met) roads.
It appears that no detonation took place at the Petchkasem Road location. Perhaps a faulty bomb!? It was aparently disarmed, but perhaps only a long time after it failed to detonate. There is also a suggestion that there were a LOT more bombs that have been publicised, but that a large number of them failed to detonate or were disarmed in time.
I believe the balsts must have taken place at about 21:30?? It was about that time that Petchkasem Road was closed. It was reopened just after midnight.
There is no real history of policemen (particularly those decided by political interference) properly solving cases like this. It'll be dead & buried in a few weeks. Or a convenient sheep or two will be shepherded into the fold:
Police chief investigating coordinated bombs in Songkhla
(BangkokPost.com) - The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, traveled to the southern province of Songkhla on Monday after the province was rocked by seven coordinated bombings last Saturday evening. The bombings caused two serious injuries and three minor injuries.
Pol Gen Patcharatwat said the bombers could be attempting to create disorder rather than trying to hurt anyone. He believed that the southern insurgent s did not intend to expand its restive territory because the situation in Songkhla, including Hat Yai, has been peaceful for a considerable time. He said the number of unrest events in the province is low.
Pol Gen Patcharatwat , however, admitted that the intelligence units in the deep South need to improve and reach their targets.
The Special Branch Police Commander, Pol Lt Gen Theeradej Rodpothong, and the Central Investigation Bureau chief, Pol Lt Gen Somyos Pumpanmuang, also joined the national police chief's visit to Songkhla.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=129275
RKK linked to Songkhla bomb blasts
Two previous terror attacks there thwarted
POST REPORTERS
Security sources in the deep South suspect Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) militants were responsible for the multiple bombing attacks in Songkhla on Saturday night. Five bombs went off in Muang district, and another two in Hat Yai district. In the Muang district blasts, two young women were injured by bomb shrapnel. The blasts caused little damage to buildings or shops in the area.
The five spots in Muang district where bombs went off are the parking lot of Doctor Cool restaurant near Samila beach, a police booth on Chalathas road, and three 7-Eleven stores on Pratha road, Ramwithi road and Thale Luang road, respectively.
In Hat Yai, bombs went off at a 7-Eleven store on Rat-uthit road, and at Lung Jerm food shop, police said.
A source said the bombers wanted to dampen the public's confidence in their safety.
Intelligence agencies suspect three ustazes (Islamic teachers) were behind the bombing.
RKK had been trying to launch terrorist attacks in Songkhla since April, but had been thwarted twice.
Security agencies suspected three Islamic teachers known as Ustaz Soh, Ustaz Haleng and Ustaz Ding might have been involved.
They are believed to be core leaders of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Coordinate (BRN Coordinate).
The bombs used were the same kind as those deployed in Bangkok when simultaneous blasts went off on Dec 31, 2006, and the bombing in Hat Yai district on May 26 last year.
The three ustazes had assigned an RKK group led by Dulyaman Maha to launch terrorist attacks in the province, said the source.
RKK is an armed unit under the BRN Coordinate.
Songkhla municipality mayor Uthit Chuchuay said he believed the bombers wanted to cause fear rather than to kill. They used low-intensity bombs with less potential to cause damage than bombs usually set off in the red-zone areas of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla.
Nevertheless, Mr Uthit said he had asked police to step up security at tourist attractions in his municipality, particularly along Chalathas beach and the Samila peninsula.
Songkhla police are collecting footage from surveillance cameras near the bombing spots.
Somchat Phimthanaphoonphon, chairman of the Hat Yai Hotel Association, said the blasts did not cause serious damage, and were set off outside the town centre.
He believed the blasts would not affect tourism in the long run, but Thai tourists might delay visits to the province for a while.
Mr Somchat said he had talked to travel agents in Malaysia, who told him that Malaysian tourists _ who make up the majority of foreign tourists in Hat Yai _ were still confident in their security when visiting tourist attractions in Songkhla.
........
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/040808_News/04Aug2008_news06.php
2 articles. See also today's previous post
Police release sketches of Songkhla bomb suspects
SONGKHLA, Aug 5 (TNA) – Thai police released sketches on Tuesday of two men suspected of connection with seven coordinated bombings in Songkhla on Saturday evening.
The sketches, based on descriptions given by eyewitnesses, were being distributed through various outlets, including television and other media.
The suspects were thought to be responsible or otherwise involved in the series of bombing incidents outside a convenience store and a restaurant in Hat Yai municipality.
Police were also tracking another three suspects identified in footage captured by a surveillance monitor in Songkhla.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Hat Yai office forwarded reports on the bombing incidents to tourism offices in Malaysia and Singapore, clarifying that the incidents were not as severe as reported in the news.
Nonetheless, over one hundred hotel room reservations in the province have been cancelled.
Meanwhile, security in Songkhla municipality itself has been tightened and police are conducting round the clock searches of suspicious vehicles. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 17:12:21 5 August 2008 (GMT+7:00)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=5598
Songkhla bolsters security following deadly bombings
Songkhla has requested the deployment of additional military personnel from the Royal Thai Army and Navy in order to safeguard the province, following 7 multiple bombings in the area.
Security plans for the province have been revised following a meeting of Army and Naval commanders, resulting in soldiers from the 5th Field Artillery Battalion, sailors from the 3rd Naval Military Police Regiment, 2nd Fleet, and explosive disposal experts from the Naval Ordnance Department being sent to reinforce the Songkhla provincial police and guard the Songkhla municipality.
Meanwhile in the Hat Yai municipality, a sizeable military and police presence was also established, with checkpoints set up on 4 corners of the city.
News Date : 05 August 2008
Reporter : RTI-Reporter03
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255108050016
Tourism in Hat Yai sluggish after bombings
Hotel occupancy in Thailand's normally vibrant business and tourism metropolis of Hat Yai of Songkhla southern province is sluggish as only 40 per cent of the district's hotel occupancy has been filled, mostly by Malaysian and Singaporean tourists on Saturday, one week after seven bombings rocked the city and province, a senior hotelier said.
Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association president Somchart Phimthanaphoon-phorn said the sluggish tourism climate in Hat Yai district, near the Thai-Malaysian common border, also resulted from the cancellation of flights from Singapore to Hat Yai although Singaporeans celebrated their country's 43rd National Day on Saturday.
Seven coordinated bombings exploded in Hat Yai and Songkhla last Saturday night, but only two injuries were reported.
Surachai Chitpakdeebodin, chairman of the Songkhla provincial chamber of commerce, said earlier that economic and trade activities in Songkhla would be adversely affected in the short run by the bombings.
Mr. Somchart said alms offerings to Buddhist monks would be held next Saturday and Sunday as hotel rooms were already fully booked by tourists.
Police have joined forces with defense volunteers and military personnel have set up checkpoints leading to Hat Yai town in order to ensure safety for local residents and tourists alike, Mr. Somchart added. (TNA)
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=129471
Tourism in Hat Yai sluggish after bombings
Hotel occupancy in Thailand's normally vibrant business and tourism metropolis of Hat Yai of Songkhla southern province is sluggish as only 40 per cent of the district's hotel occupancy has been filled, mostly by Malaysian and Singaporean tourists on Saturday, one week after seven bombings rocked the city and province, a senior hotelier said.
Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association president Somchart Phimthanaphoon-phorn said the sluggish tourism climate in Hat Yai district, near the Thai-Malaysian common border, also resulted from the cancellation of flights from Singapore to Hat Yai although Singaporeans celebrated their country's 43rd National Day on Saturday.
Seven coordinated bombings exploded in Hat Yai and Songkhla last Saturday night, but only two injuries were reported.
Surachai Chitpakdeebodin, chairman of the Songkhla provincial chamber of commerce, said earlier that economic and trade activities in Songkhla would be adversely affected in the short run by the bombings.
Mr. Somchart said alms offerings to Buddhist monks would be held next Saturday and Sunday as hotel rooms were already fully booked by tourists.
Police have joined forces with defense volunteers and military personnel have set up checkpoints leading to Hat Yai town in order to ensure safety for local residents and tourists alike, Mr. Somchart added. (TNA)
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=129471
I frequently get second-hand reports from folks who don't seem too interested in sweating the small stuff like the identity of the TV channel and when the arrest was made etc.
Ssoooo ..... An unknown Thai TV channel this evening carried a very short report that a Malaysian has been arrested (date & time unspecified) for involvement in the Songkhla bombings. The report carried footage of an un-named youngish Malaysian muslim male with a 'handsome face". :D He was apparently renting a house in Songkhla Province's Sadao District. Bombmaking materials were found in the house. His known associates have fled. No mention whether some of those associates were also Malaysian.
I frequently get second-hand reports from folks who don't seem too interested in sweating the small stuff like the identity of the TV channel and when the arrest was made etc.
Ssoooo ..... An unknown Thai TV channel this evening carried a very short report that a Malaysian has been arrested (date & time unspecified) for involvement in the Songkhla bombings. The report carried footage of an un-named youngish Malaysian muslim male with a 'handsome face". :D He was apparently renting a house in Songkhla Province's Sadao District. Bombmaking materials were found in the house. His known associates have fled. No mention whether some of those associates were also Malaysian.
But this. Note that it says 2 others are already in custody:
2 additional Songkhal bombing suspects apprehended
Police have apprehended 2 additional suspects for involvement in a recent multiple bombing attack in Songkhla province.
The Commander of the Songkhla Provincial Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wirote Iamphaichit (วิรุฬ เอี่ยมไพจิตร์), held a meeting of police officers in order to report on progress made in investigating a recent multiple bombing in Songkhla province. Police were able to apprehend two additional suspects in Chana (จะนะ) district of Songkhla province, resulting in the total number of suspects in custody rising to 4.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wirote said that some suspects in custody have admitted their involvement in the Songkhla bombings. 10 investigative units are currently deployed in the Songkhla provincial area to collect additional evidence and information.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255108120015&news_headline=2
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