Thai authorities are searching for multiple suspects following an attack in the country's southern deep south region that killed five soldiers and injured several civilians. The incident occurred Wednesday evening at a security checkpoint near a residential area in Narathiwat province.
Approximately 10 attackers reportedly opened fire and threw pipe bombs at the soldiers before fleeing. Six civilians sustained injuries during the assault, including a 10-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities released images appearing to show the attackers, dressed in black and riding on the back of a black pickup truck. The truck was later found abandoned and burned about 13 miles from the attack site.
The assailants also stole three AK-47 rifles, three bulletproof vests, and three mobile phones from the paramilitary Ranger force members. These forces often operate in border regions as an auxiliary to the regular army.
Narathiwat, along with Yala and Pattani provinces, are Thailand's southernmost provinces and have been the center of a Muslim separatist insurgency since 2004. These provinces are the only ones in the predominantly Buddhist nation with Muslim majorities. The insurgency has resulted in thousands of deaths over the years, fueled by longstanding grievances of Muslim residents who complain of being treated as second-class citizens and by heavy-handed crackdowns by security forces. While fighting has decreased in intensity, it continues.
The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, responsible for security in southern Thailand, pledged to "expedite the investigation and search for the perpetrators with the best efforts" in a Facebook post. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemned the attack, describing it as a "terrorist attack that clearly aimed at killing government officials, and a serious threat to national security."
Footage from the scene showed damage to nearby homes and properties. One residence had its roof, windows, and doors damaged, and a motorcycle parked outside was destroyed. Another home sustained bullet holes across its metal front gate.