A motorcycle bomb blew up in Pattani province yesterday, killing a nine-year-old boy and wounding 12 others just days before the official first round of peace talks between the National Security Council and the BRN-Coordinate. The talks will begin on Monday. Police believe the blast in the heart of Pattani town was staged to create unrest in the deep South.
Nisoplian Nisani, 9, died immediately, while his mother was among the wounded.
Pattani Governor Pramuk Lamun gave his condolences to the victims' families and convened an urgent meeting with security officials. He said, "We will examine recordings from security cameras and will nail down the culprits."
About five kilograms of explosives were inside the motorcycle. The vehicle was parked in front of a bakery before the blast was triggered at around 1:40 p.m. yesterday.
Apart from casualties, the explosion damaged seven motorcycles and three cars. It also shattered the windows and doors of many buildings nearby.