Four Defense Volunteers Shot Dead by Suspected Insurgents in Southern Thailand

 

PATTANI – Four defense volunteers were shot dead inside a school in Yarang district shortly before noon on Thursday, as the violence shows no sign of easing in the far South of Thailand.

An unknown number of gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire at the defense volunteers, who were sitting at the basement of the school building and took the victim’s guns with them.

Spikes were strewn on a road to obstruct the police from following them.

The school was closed immediately after the attack.

The four dead volunteers were Sulaiman Wae-useng, 36, Muhammad Taeteng, 33, Abdulloh Salae, 35, and Bueraheng Ji, 32.

Colonel Pramote Prom-in, the spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

He said the gunmen were dressed in military-like uniforms to enter the school and shoot the defense volunteers.

They were sitting under a raised school building. Armed men dressed like soldiers arrived on motorcycles. They pretended to inspect the school, greeted the security detail, and then opened fire on them.

The gunmen then fled with the slain men’s four AK rifles, Pol Lt Wicha said.

A teacher said no one saw the shooting as the students were in class and small kids were having lunch.

All students were quickly picked up by their parents after the attack.