Ra-ngae: The Commander of the 4th Army Region has taken an active role in the investigation of three bomb attacks in Ra-ngae District, Narathiwat Province. The incidents, spanning February 14 and 15, 2026, resulted in property damage but no injuries or fatalities. Swift action has been ordered to gather evidence and bring those responsible to justice.
According to Thai News Agency, at 2:30 PM on February 15, 2026, Lieutenant General Norathip Poynok, accompanied by Major General Yodawut Phungphak and Police Major General Prayong Kotrasakha, led a team to inspect the bombing sites. The inspection team included members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, forensic officers, and other relevant officials. The first explosion occurred at a grocery store named Rat Charoen, owned by Mr. Surat, where the bomb was placed on a display shelf, causing significant damage to snack products and shelving.
The second bombing site was a grocery store called Supermarket, owned by Mr. Ratchapong, located near the Islamic Bank. The explosive device was found near the dishwashing liquid aisle, causing damage to merchandise. Mr. Ratchapong reported hearing an explosion the previous night but initially dismissed it as having occurred at the nearby Rat Charoen store. Upon discovering the damage, he alerted the authorities.
Officials suspect that the perpetrators blended with the local population to plant the bombs, coordinating the explosions to disrupt authorities. The third bomb was placed in a municipal trash can at the intersection of Ra-ngae Makk Road. Similar fragments and bomb assembly methods were found at all three sites, suggesting a coordinated effort.
CCTV footage showed four individuals on two motorcycles placing bombs at the two stores and discarding a bomb in the trash can before fleeing. Authorities believe these acts may be linked to a violent extremist group, potentially involving a new member testing their resolve for future attacks.
Lieutenant General Norathip urged Major General Prayong to increase security measures and improve intelligence gathering to counteract the tactics of the perpetrators. He emphasized the importance of rapid evidence collection and the prosecution of those responsible for the bombings.