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KUALA LUMPUR – A shootout and subsequent explosions were reported in the Thai border town of Tak Bai in Narathiwat, injuring three security officers with blasts heard across the border in Tumpat, Kelantan.
Thai news site Bangkok Post said three marine police officers were injured by shrapnel from at least three reported blasts supposedly caused by hand grenades hurled at the police station in the 9.35pm incident yesterday.
A police station in Tak Bai, Naratiwat Province in Thailand's deep south was attacked late on Wednesday night. The assailants opened fire and threw grenades. At least three officers were injured #ไฟใต้ #ตากใบ pic.twitter.com/FZBCGvRDRS
— James Buchanan จิมมี่ (@JBuchananBKK) May 25, 2022
The report claimed the violence was initiated by at least six attackers who hurled the explosives and opened fire at the security personnel with automatic rifles, causing several vehicles and buildings nearby to ignite.
It was also reported that a suspicious gas cylinder was spotted at a convenience store nearby the scene and with the bomb disposal squad called in to examine the threat, as the three injured men were sent to Narathiwat Hospital for treatment.
The injured trio were identified as Sulaiman Yuso, 23, defence volunteer Opas Saensom, 33, and defence volunteer Ekawat Ketduang, 41.
Meanwhile, videos of the incident shared on social media showed locals running for safety, with one of the videos showing a gunman opening fire while seeking shelter behind a wall.
Also evident in the videos was constant gunfire, followed by hordes of people heading towards the border presumably to seek refuge.
Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Zaki Harun confirmed the incident, but stopped short of elaborating, considering it took place on the Thai side of the border. – The Vibes, May 26, 2022
