PATTANI — A suspect has been detained in connection with a deadly roadside bombing that killed an army ranger and injured four others, including a civilian, in Panare district of Pattani province. The attack occurred Monday morning and prompted a large-scale security operation in the area.

Police Officer Killed in Insurgent Ambush in Pattani

The explosion took place around 9:30 AM on Highway 4157 near Na Phrao village 2, tambon Panare. Paramilitary forces from Ranger Company 4214 were returning in a pickup truck from community outreach activities when a hidden bomb detonated, flipping their vehicle and throwing it off the road.

Police investigators said the device was likely an improvised explosive concealed inside a gas cylinder and buried beneath the road. The blast created a sizable crater and scattered shrapnel across the scene. The army vehicle came to rest approximately 20 meters from the point of detonation.

PATTANI – Security forces detained a suspect on Tuesday after a road bomb killed one army ranger and injured three others and a civilian in Panare district of this southernmost border province on Monday.

Listen to the story or get the full story in the 1st comment.#Thailand pic.twitter.com/qT3PbGyH7j

— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) June 3, 2025

The explosion killed 39-year-old Lt. Apichart Phaphan and injured three other members of the unit: Sgt. Sulkifli Maiding, 45; ranger volunteer Praidae Yusor, 33; and ranger volunteer Masufi Waete, 28. A civilian, Masofi Porha, who was driving a passing pickup truck, also sustained minor injuries when the damaged army vehicle struck his vehicle during the blast.

On Tuesday morning, security forces deployed around 10 vehicles and sealed off Na Phrao village 2 as they moved in to search for suspects. Authorities detained a 38-year-old local laborer, identified only as Sukifli, and took him to Panare police station for questioning. He was later transferred to Inkhayuthaborihan military camp, the region’s main counterinsurgency facility, for further interrogation.

Terror Strikes Again: Two Police Officers Killed in Yala Bomb Attack

The area remains under tight security as forensic teams continue to examine the blast site for additional evidence. The incident adds to the ongoing unrest in Thailand’s southern border provinces, where insurgent violence has claimed thousands of lives over the past two decades. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the attack is linked to any known separatist group, but the investigation is ongoing.

-Thailand News (TN)