The wreckage of what was once a praying room at Ban Pa Tua School in Kamphaeng Phet. Early yesterday arsonists poured diesel into the building and set it alight.

Intelligence officials have moved in to Kamphaeng Phet province in an attempt to find the culprits behind yesterday's simultaneous arson attacks on three schools.

The attacks prompted speculation that they were carried out by people who had lost out in last week's coup.

The Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) spokesman Lt-General Palangoon Klaharn called on people not to panic or point fingers at anyone without evidence.

Anyone found guilty of burning down state property during martial law could be sentenced to death.

"Please wait for investigations by police, the Third Army Brigade and the Third Army Region," he said.

Kamphaeng Phet was seen as a stronghold of the Thaksin Shinawatra-led government, which was overthrown in last Tuesday's bloodless coup.

Colonel Banyong Sirasunthorn, a spokesman for the Third Army Region, yesterday said his unit had not yet ruled out the possibility that the arson was politically motivated. He said special taskforces had been stationed at key locations in Kamphaeng Phet, especially in Lan Krabue and Phran Kratai districts where the arson attacks ravaged three schools.

Senior military officers flew in by helicopter yesterday to inspect the damaged schools.

According to the Third Army Region, the arsonists had clearly plotted together and had attempted to set fire to three further schools in the same northern province but were foiled by rain.

It was rumoured the CDR Third Army Region was preparing to arrest several local politicians in Kamphaeng Phet.

Banyong said military authorities were preparing to summon the chairmen of tambon administrative organisations to be briefed on relevant information next week.

The general secretary of the Basic Education Commission, Pornnipha Limpaphayom, said no one was injured in the fires.

Somkiat Boonrod, director of Kamphaeng Phet Educational Service Area I, said he had instructed teachers at the three damaged schools to conduct classes in libraries and computer rooms in the meantime.

"We can't close schools at this moment because final exams are upcoming," he said. Somkiat led a meeting of teachers and school administrators in the area.

"They were saddened," he said. "They never thought that such attacks would take place here. For the moment they are not frightened. They believe the arsonists did not aim to kill," he said.

Somkiat said volunteers and police officers were being asked to help patrol schools at night. He said teachers would take turns watching out for their schools.

When asked who he thought had carried out the attacks, Somkiat said he felt those whose interests were affected by last week's coup could have done it.

His deputy, Sompong Mathupan, denied that a conflict among teachers or education officials had led to the attacks.

"The arson was well planned. It might have been intended to stir up trouble," Sompong said.

Meanwhile, teachers' groups will meet today to discuss the arson attacks in Kamphaeng Phet. Surin Intaraksa, the secretary-general of the Federation of Northern Teachers, said the groups would issue a joint statement to express moral support to those involved.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up at government agencies and schools in nearby Phetchabun.