Two schools, child care centre closed after Pattani attack

Two primary schools and a child care centre in Por Ming sub-district, Panare district of Pattani province, were closed today after suspected insurgents torched the Por Ming municipal office and three cars parked in the same compound last night.

Yusarun Yuso, vice mayor of Por Ming municipality, said he was alerted by officials that a group of men had restrained two security guards before setting fire to cars parked in the garage and breaking through a barricade into the office building, which they also set ablaze.

He said the perpetrators also left an improvised explosive device (IED) at the security guards’ kiosk. He then instructed officials at a nearby administrative office to send personnel to help put out the fire.

Yusarun said it took some time for the officials to arrive because of safety precautions and darkness.

The fire was eventually brought under control, although the building was partially damaged.

The vice mayor said the municipal office had been temporarily closed and officials were barred from entering the compound until an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team had searched the area for suspicious objects.

Panare police said the perpetrators had approached from behind the premises without being detected by the security guards.

The torching of the Por Ming municipal office and the vehicles was the latest in a series of bomb and arson attacks in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces that began on Saturday night.

The military has described the attacks as retaliation for the authorities’ tough crackdown on illegal drug and contraband trafficking networks in the restive deep South.