A petrol station in Mayo district of Pattani province sustained serious damages after an army bomb disposal squad detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly planted by insurgents.

After being alerted to the presence of an LPG tank at the petrol station, on a road in Ko Chan sub-district this morning, security forces and a bomb disposal squad were dispatched to the scene.

The security forces sealed off a safe area around the petrol station and a drone was deployed to survey the area, before a robot was sent in to destroy the IED with a powerful water jet, causing an explosion which seriously damaged the petrol station.

Police said that, two days ago, a Myanmar national, living at a shelter near the petrol station, was killed when a bomb, also believed to have been planted by insurgents, detonated.
Another petrol station, belonging to the same owner, was recently attacked with an IED.

Suspected insurgents launched a string of coordinated arson attacks against convenience stores, cell towers, a crushing plant, a timber warehouse, shop houses, CCTV cameras and construction machinery in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat on Friday, but there were no deaths or injuries.