YALA (Southern Thailand), Nov 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Several members of an armed group attacked two security checkpoints in southern Thailand Tuesday night, killing 15 volunteers and injuring four others on duty, according to police.
Yala provincial police chief Police Maj Gen Prabpal Meemongkol said the deaths and injuries occurred following an intense shootout between the attackers and the security volunteers at 10.15 pm (11.15 pm in Malaysia) at the checkpoints which are located three kilometres apart.
Two of the 15 dead are women, he said, adding that the security posts are located in Mukim Lampaya and Kampung Thung Sadao.
“The attackers took with them eight firearms,” Prabpal said when contacted Wednesday.
Eight of the volunteers were killed on the spot and seven others died at the Yala Hospital, he said, adding that the four injured volunteers have been admitted to the same hospital.
Prabpal said the attackers also bombed an electricity pole, torched tyres and scattered nails along the Lampaya-Lammai Road to stall pursuit by security authorities.
“An initial police investigation found that the assailants are members of an armed group active in the area,” he said.
— NNN-BERNAMA