Five paramilitary rangers were killed and five civilians, including two boys, were wounded in a coordinated gun and bomb attack on a security checkpoint in Narathiwat’s Ra-ngae district on Wednesday evening.
The assault occurred at around 6:45pm on July 22 at the Bukeh Sami municipal checkpoint in Ton Yong Mas municipality. The post was staffed by members of the 4509th Ranger Company, operating under the 45th Ranger Forces Regiment Task Force.
Preliminary reports said six black-clad attackers arrived in a black four-door Nissan pickup before opening sustained gunfire and throwing pipe bombs at the checkpoint.
The five injured civilians were identified as Habib Hina, Muhammad Ali Abrue, Farhah Abrue, Muhammad Hafit Hina and Awatif Bueraheng. Habib and Awatif were reported to be boys.
Emergency responders transported the wounded to nearby hospitals for treatment. Details of their conditions were not immediately released.
Following the attack, the assailants fled along Highway 4055 from Ton Yong Mas towards Dusongyo subdistrict in Ra-ngae.
Security forces cordoned off the checkpoint and surrounding area as forensic officers collected spent cartridge cases, bomb fragments and other evidence from the scene.
Military and police units also established roadblocks along suspected escape routes and launched a wider operation to track down those responsible.
Later reports suggested that motorcycles may have been used as advance and escort vehicles during the assault, although the attackers’ primary vehicle was initially identified as the black pickup.
Security agencies subsequently ordered units across the area to raise their alert levels, reinforce checkpoints and increase patrols amid concerns over a possible follow-up attack.
Personnel were instructed to closely monitor public areas, government buildings and security installations while the manhunt continued.
The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command condemned the attack and paid tribute to the five rangers, saying they had lost their lives while protecting communities in Thailand’s southern border provinces.
The command expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to provide all entitled benefits, welfare assistance and other forms of support.
It also vowed to pursue the attackers and bring them to justice, while strengthening security measures to protect local residents and restore confidence in the area.
