23 Yala banks hit by bomb blasts

[limbo]

23 Yala banks hit by bomb blasts

 

Yala - Muslim militants launched 23coordinated time bomb attacks at commercial banks in this southern province Thursday, killing at least one man and severely injuring at least four bank customers, police said.

 

 

The bombs, mostly left on bank counters and some in ATM booths at the banks, were detonated mostly by clocks between 11:30 to 11:35 am. Twenty six people suffered minor injuries.

 

Police said militants dressed in student uniformed carried bombs hidden in folders, books and plastic banks and left them on counters where customers wrote bank slips.

 

The attacks prompted all banks in the province to close its business for a day and at least five schools decided to close and released students home.

 

The attacks were carried out in five districts - 11 in Muang, six in Betong, 2 in Yaha, 2 in Bannang Sata and 2 in Raman.

 

Police said most of the injured were those who came in to draw cash from ATM machines.

 

Most of the bombs were hidden in thick books, which pages carved out or in women handbags.

 

The killed was identified as Major Sanuchart Srithong, a retired army officer.

 

Police sources said two Muslim youths have been arrested after police checked tape from security cameras of ATM booths and saw them planting the bombs.

 

In Muang district, 11 banks were attacked. They were Government Savings Bank (GSB), Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), Krungthai Bank (KTB), two branches of Islamic Bank, Kasikorn Thai Bank, Siam City Bank (SCIB), Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Thai Military Bank and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB).

 

In Betong, the BAAC branch, SCB branch, Kasikorn Thai branch, GSB branch and KTB branch were attacked. Another bomb was defused in time at the Bangkok Bank.

 

In Yaha, the GSB branch and BAAC branch were attacked.

 

In Bannang Sata, the KTB and BAAC branches were attacked.

 

In Raman, the KTB and BAAC branches were hit by the bombs.

 

A source from the Siam City Bank in Yala downtown said an official received a phone call, saying a bomb had been planted near the manager's room.

 

The caller told the bank to evacuate its employees immediately but the bomb exploded shortly after the phone was hung up.

 

A bank official was injured on his arm and bank customers ran for their life after the explosion, the source said.

 

Sources from security agencies said they have received a tip-off that the militants would launch coordinated attacks in a few days but they expected the attacks would be carried out on Friday.

 

Somsak Thisarn, the manager of SCB Yala branch, said the Yala Banker Association resolved to have all banks in Yala closed for a day.

 

Sanya Suwanpho, chairman of the Yala Teachers Federation, said some schools decided to close for fear that militants would shift attacks to schools after the banks.

 

He said parents and teachers had learnt that the militants would launch attacks on August 31 to mark the formation of the Bersatu terrorist umbrella group.

 

Lt Gen Ongkorn Thongprasom, commander of the Fourth Army Area, said all army forces in Yala had been deployed to control the situation shortly after the attacks.

 

The Nation 31/08/06

 

 

[..]

Wow, 23. Last I heard it was 6!

 

That's just so fucked up. Another feather in Thaksin's cap. When Chuan was in power, it was mostly peaceful down there.

 

Regards,

SD

[chelseafan]

interesting to note that the islamists hit the the islam bank....

 

[limbo]

According to a Dutch report, women were seen leaving bombs in banks as well.

[zzzz]

23 banks bombed in a coordinated attack -- hard to believe; it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes international news (what in the world is this world coming to?)

[shotover2]

23 banks bombed in a coordinated attack -- hard to believe; it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes international news (what in the world is this world coming to?)

 

Among the CNN headlines in the USA Thursday morning.

 

[OCgringo]

scary that they are that organized to do 23 at one time

 

any reports on how many did not go off ?

 

OC

[chelseafan]

not difficult to do, all the bombs were on timers, whats scary is that in all 23 banks no-one saw anything suspicious.....

[Pescator]

According to a Dutch report, women were seen leaving bombs in banks as well.

 

I guess that didn`t seem suspicious

[Central Scrutinizer]

I think it may be time for the southern Thais to start to be suspicious of EVERY package they see lying around (much the way the British were taught back in the IRA bombing days). And for the Thai military and police to become a lot more active in guarding potential targets than they have been so far. I think the gov is going to have to set up many new rules and curfews and such to combat what is happening down there. Looks like these 'insurgents' or 'seperatisits' are learning well exactly how they can do these timed explosives without needing a mobile to set them off, and they seem to be very well co-ordinated in their attacks. They, the rebels, are making fools out of the government, the military, and the police down there. Doesn't make me very comfortable knowing how easily they seem to do these things. I'm still waiting for them to move north with these strikes/attacks. Certainly does not seem it would be hard for them to do that.

 

Cent

 

p.s. Anyone else thinking how easy it would be to do this just by having these female terrorists put a plastic bag covered bomb in a bunch of trash bins that stand near almost every 7-11 store front door the same as they did the banks and ATMs?