Irate Drugs Gang Linked to 5 bombs in Surat Thani

A drug trafficking gang rocked by a police crackdown is now thought to have been behind the unexploded bombs found in this southern province on Wednesday.

Police Region eight chief Santan Chayanont yesterday said the bombs appeared to be aimed at creating public disquiet rather than damage as well as discrediting Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, the Surat Thani MP who is in charge of national security.

Five bombs were planted at 4 locations in Muang and Kanchanadit districts.

Pol Lt Gen Santan said he suspected a local drug trafficking network was behind the bomb threats because a recent suppression campaign had hit it hard financially.

Earlier it was thought the bombs might have been meant to embarrass Mr Suthep by proving he could not provide security in his hometown, let alone for the nation.

An examination of the explosive components showed the devices were more sophisticated than those used in attacks in the deep South.

They were obviously made by professionals.

A scientific team said most of the explosives improvised by insurgent groups in the troubled southern provinces contained metal scraps and nails to inflict maximum injury.

Parts of the circuit boards from the mobile phones used in the Surat Thani bombs were sent for comprehensive analysis by the Central Institute of Forensic Science for possible links to the insurgency.

An intelligence source said the SIM card of one mobile phone that could have triggered a bomb was bought at a grocery shop in the province.

After checking the phone's call record, it was believed the bomb plot was hatched four days ago.

Source - The Bangkok Post