ARMED MEN RAID SECURITY CENTRES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND, STEAL FIREARMS IN COORDINATED ATTACKS

YALA, July 10 (Bernama) -- Armed and masked men attacked three village security control centres and stole firearms in three separate incidents in Yala, southern Thailand.

Yala Region’s Police Chief Maj. Gen. Pol. Seksan Churangsarit said that three groups of armed and masked men attacked the village security control centres in Tambon Krong Pinang, Tambon Yaha, and Tambon Muang Lamai.

In the first incident at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Seksan said a group of armed men attacked the security control centre of Krong Pinang village, firing several shots before making off with a pistol and a walkie-talkie.

He said the second incident occurred at around 9:50 p.m. in Tambon Yaha district, where about 15 armed men attacked the Tambon Yaha security control centre before escaping with a rifle and a pistol.

"The same incident was also reported in Tambon Muang Lamai at around 10:30 p.m., where about 17 armed men attacked the security control centre and fled with two rifles," he said in a statement here on Wednesday.

Seksan said police have tightened security and increased patrols to hunt down the suspects who stole the firearms.

"Efforts to identify the suspects are actively underway, but so far, no party has claimed responsibility for the attacks," he said.

On Tuesday, the Thai government agreed to extend the emergency decree over three southern border provinces – Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala – for another three months until October 9, to ensure the safety of lives and property.

-- BERNAMA