Published on June 21, 2005

Police arrested a local Muslim official in Narathiwat on Sunday night following a high-speed chase after the man ran a checkpoint. In the pickup, the officers discovered a large amount of fertiliser that could be used to make bombs.

Meanwhile, three men were fatally shot in a grocery store in Yala’s Yaha district by armed intruders. One man died at the scene and the two others at hospital. In a separate incident, two men on a motorcycle shot and injured a Muslim man in a drive-by shooting in Yala’s Raman district.

The driver of the pickup in Narathiwat, Somchai Arwae, maintained his innocence. He was held for further questioning.

Police said the Muslim man was found to be carrying 11 bags of fertiliser concentrate weighing a total of 220 kilograms. Suspicions arose over the intended use of the chemicals after the man ran a police checkpoint in Muang district. During a subsequent search of Somchai’s house, police located another 33 bags of similar highly concentrated fertiliser. Each bag weighed 20kg, investigators said.

Somchai is a member of Baloy Tambon Administrative Organisation and has been charged with smuggling. He may face further charges.

Regional police chief Lt-General Adul Saengsingkaew said Somchai’s arrest had come after a tip-off that insurgents were seeking to obtain bomb-making materials for attacks in Songkhla during a national convention of municipal officials to be held in Hat Yai from tomorrow until Friday.

At a press conference, security officials displayed nails, road spikes, chainsaw joints, and steel rods, which they said the bomb-makers had intended for use as shrapnel to increase the impact of explosives to maim and kill victims.

Songkhla police chief Maj-General Suraphol Thongprasert said security had been placed on high alert for 24 hours at the Lee Garden Plaza hotel, the main venue for the convention, which will host more than 10,000 participants. Security has also been beefed up at 13 other hotels where participants will be staying, he added.

Responding to a report that an intelligence tip had identified four cars allegedly earmarked for bomb attacks during the convention, Suraphol said security officials were closely monitoring the situation.

He explained that the four cars identified as potential bomb carriers were a black Mitsubishi passenger cab with the licence plate 9670 BKK; a dark green Toyota sedan with the plate Korkai Khorkhai 699 Pattani; a white Mitsubishi sedan; and a purple Nissan NV.

Also, police and military officers are now conducting joint investigations into the beheading of a Lao couple on Saturday night.

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