Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin held an immediate meeting today with top security officials, including interim national police chief Pol Gen Kittarat Panphet, in response to the attacks in the southernmost provinces earlier in the day.
He tasked Kittarat with visiting the areas today to collect information about the attacks in the outskirts of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani provinces.
Srettha also instructed the military and the police to increase security at all government offices in those provinces. Kittarat informed reporters after the meeting that he was set to fly to Hat Yai in Songkhla province before heading to the deep south to hold discussions with local police on measures to safeguard government offices and prevent future attacks.
In the meantime, Lt. Gen. Santi Sakuntanark, commander of the Fourth Army Region, mentioned that the arson attacks seemed to target economic assets in the outskirts of the provinces rather than causing harm to people.
Suspected insurgents carried out coordinated robbery and arson attacks on various targets, including 7-11 convenience stores, crushing plants, and cell towers.
Read more : Insurgents set fire to buildings in three southernmost provinces
Santi stated that the insurgents believed they would gain more religious rewards by launching attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.
