The plot – thwarted by the innocent victim and swift response from security officials on Tuesday – could have caused huge casualties.

Police and soldiers staged a pre-dawn operation yesterday to make the arrests. The suspects are Sanafee Jehteh, 29, Marorfee Jehdeemae, 42, and Reeduwan Tahay, 32.

DNA traces from the pickup used in the foiled bomb plot have already nailed one of these suspects.

Police are now interrogating the three men in a bid to track down all of those involved. According to witnesses, about 10 men took part in hijacking the pickup.

Yala is one of three provinces in the far South where unrest has flared over the past 12 years, with violent incidents taking place almost on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, in Narathiwat, another southern border province, soldiers with the help of military dogs scoured a mountainous area in a bid to hunt down insurgents who raided the Joh I Rong Hospital on March 13. That drama was the first time assailants had threatened a medical compound in the area.

Video footage and other evidence showed more than 50 men took part in the raid, aimed at launching attacks on a nearby military base. Hospital staff and patients were not harmed.

Yesterday, arrest warrants were issued for six more suspected raiders. They were Suedee Puteh, 28, Yakee Wor-ngoi, 34, Subaidee Safru, |22, Ardue-anan Beuraheng, 26, Abudulloh Johloh, 26, and Abdulhaleng No, 25.

Latest arrest warrants has brought the total number for this case to eight. Two arrest warrants were issued earlier.