The Armed Forces of Thailand have reported this Thursday the death of five border agents after an attack on a checkpoint located in the province of Narathiwat, an area with a Muslim majority in the south of the country where separatist insurgent groups operate.
In an official statement, the Army has indicated that this is one of the deadliest attacks of this type recorded in recent years and has specified that the assault took place at night, "when the assailants opened fire and launched several improvised explosive devices" against the personnel deployed at the site.
The authorities have also indicated that at least six civilians have been injured and have detailed that the perpetrators of the attack were six men traveling in a black pickup truck, from which they initiated the shooting and the launching of explosives against the Bukeh Sami checkpoint, located in the Tanyong Mat district.
In the ambush, the sub-officer Theerayoot Somakerd and four agents identified as Sakeereeya Jehna, Wimol Dapthong, Nathasit Kaeosena, and Solahuding Pi lost their lives. Among the six injured civilians are two minors, according to information released by the newspaper "Bangkok Post."
After the attack, the assailants fled along road 4055 towards the Dusongyor district. Security forces have activated a wide tracking operation in the area to try to locate those responsible.
This new episode of violence occurs just a few days after a car bomb attack carried out on Tuesday night near a police station in the Muang district, also in the province of Narathiwat.