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NARATHIWAT - At least three bombs exploded in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province on Saturday night, injuring many people, police said.

Police suspected insurgents carried out the attacks in Tak Bai ahead of the eight-year anniversary of the Tak Bai massacre on Oct 25, 2004.

The explosions took place about 9pm.

Police said a bomb hidden in a parked car exploded in front of Tak Bai Plaza hotel and another bomb hidden in a parked motorcycle later exploded in front of the Sodsai karaoke bar, located 100m from the hotel. The third explosion took place inside the V grocery shop in the district's downtown area.

Police said suspected southern insurgents also sprayed bullets into a marine police camp.

The officers inside briefly exchanged gunfire with the perpetrators, killing one of them at the scene.

Police were investigating.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and over 9,000 hurt in more than 11,000 incidents, or about 3.5 a day, in the three southernmost provinces and the four districts of Songkhla since the violence erupted afresh in January 2004, according to Deep South Watch. - an independent research organisation monitoring violence in the region.

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Bombs kill 2, wounds 7 in Narathiwat


Two soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in two bomb explosions in Narathiwat's Bacho district on Sunday morning.

Pol Col Pakdi Preechachon, the Bacho police chief, said the incidents occurred at about 9am.

While a military unit was on foot patrol in the area of Ban Tanyong in tambon Bare Tai two bombs planted in the area were detonated remotely.

The explosions killed two soldiers and wounded seven others. They were admitted to Narathiwatratchanakarin Hospital.

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2nd teacher slain in Narathiwat

A teacher was shot dead in a drive-by shooting by suspected insurgents in Narathiwat's Rueso district on Sunday evening.

The man was the second teacher killed in Narathiwat in less than three weeks.

Police identified him as Pol Sgt Preecha Samaimai, 40, who was a teacher at Ban La-o Border Patrol Police (BPP) School in tambon Si Banpot of Si Sakhon district.

Pol Sgt Preecha, who carried a 9mm pistol, was travelling in his pickup truck along the Reuso-Tha Rua Road at 4.30pm when four men on two motorcycles sandwiched him. The two gunmen riding pillion, armed with an M16 assault rifle and an AK-47, sprayed bullets at his vehicle, killing him instantly. The gunman took the teacher’s weapon and fled.

Police found 18 spent M16 and AK-47 casings at the spot. Pol Sgt Preecha’s bullet-riddled body was found in his pickup which ran into a roadside ditch.

Police said Pol Sgt Preecha left his school in Si Sakhon district to study at Narathiwat Community College in Rueso and was heading home when the attack took place.

Police blamed southern separatists for the killing.

On Oct 1, Komsan Chomyong, 40, a former border police patrol officer and a Prathom 6 (grade 6) teacher was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Rangae district.

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