YALA: The group involved in a series of bomb attacks in southern Thailand’s provinces bordering Malaysia is suspected of using urea nitrate, derived from urea fertiliser, a security official said.
Thailand’s Fourth Army Region Commander, Lieutenan General Naratip Phoyanok said the suspicion is based on serial numbers found on seized boxes of urea fertiliser recovered by security forces.
Naratip said the series of bomb attacks occurred primarily in Narathiwat province, in Sungai Golok and Takbai, about two months ago.
He said a suspect arrested recently confessed to sourcing the fertiliser, which was then converted into homemade bombs intended for a series of attacks in the Deep South, including Narathiwat near the Malaysian border.
“According to the case and arrests made two months ago, one detainee admitted to obtaining supplies of urea fertiliser used to make homemade bombs.
“The fertiliser was smuggled from across the border of a neighbouring country and was intended for several planned explosions,” he said.
The southern provinces of Thailand, bordering Malaysia, have long been a hotspot for separatist violence and insurgent attacks targeting security forces and civilians.
Naratip, who is also the director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4, told this to Malaysian media when met at his office in Yala on Wednesday.
The commander said the suspects made the devices in remote hills and forests before moving them to villages for detonation.
Thai security sources have previously reported a rise in bomb attacks and unrest incidents in Narathiwat, Yala, and the provinces bordering Malaysia, prompting stepped-up patrols and inspections of suspicious consignments.
Naratip said military and police units would continue intensified surveillance to prevent further incidents.
Urea nitrate — a compound derived from urea — has been cited in past insurgent and terrorist devices elsewhere, and authorities in Thailand have been monitoring the sale and movement of bulk fertiliser as part of wider security measures.
Thai officials emphasised that criminal investigations are ongoing and that further forensic analysis of the seized material will be carried out.
Naratip said the fertiliser was smuggled from a neighbouring country. He declined to elaborate.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
