Phang Nga – Authorities in Phang Nga intercepted a suspicious vehicle early Tuesday morning, uncovering an improvised explosive device and detonator components, leading to the arrest of two men allegedly transporting the materials from Songkhla to Phuket.

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At approximately 3:30 AM, police manning a security checkpoint near Phang Nga Provincial Hall observed a private sedan making an abrupt turn into the provincial bus terminal. Officers immediately signaled the vehicle to stop for inspection.

The driver, identified as Muhamad, and his passenger, Sulaiman, told authorities they had been hired to transport the vehicle from Thepa district in Songkhla province to Phuket. Both men denied knowledge of the dangerous contents found in the car.

‼️Royal Thai Police Stop Potential Islamist Terror Attack In Phuket 🇹🇭

🇹🇭Two Suspects ARRESTED & A Suspected Bomb Was Seized By Thai Police

☪️ At around 03:30am on June 24th Police in Phang Nga arrested two men after discovering a suspected explosive device in their car at a… pic.twitter.com/RIGsA03fv5

— James Goddard (@JamesPGoddard90) June 24, 2025

A thorough search revealed a plastic bag inside a handbag containing a stopwatch wired to a circuit board—common components of an improvised explosive device (IED). Police also located a small quantity of explosives elsewhere in the vehicle.

As a precaution, officers placed the seized items inside two old car tires and cordoned off the area. An explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit was dispatched to safely handle the materials.

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Authorities are working to determine the intended target of the device and whether the suspects have ties to any militant groups. The men remain in custody as police trace their backgrounds and possible connections to recent unrest in Thailand’s southern provinces.

-Thailand News (TN)