The arrest of Hasun Manihiya was revealed at a press conference jointly held by Pattani Taskforce Commander Maj Gen Jatuporn Klumpasut, Pattani police chief Pol Maj Gen Piyawat Chalermsi and Deputy Pattani Governor Pongthep Khaimuk.

Jatuporn said the suspect was arrested while selling grilled chicken on a roadside in Pattani’s Yarang district on Monday.

He said Hasun was arrested because suspects in the Big C Pattani bombing provided information that led to his arrest.

He was suspected of launching a car bomb at the Koh Morkaeng road checkpoint in Pattani July 5 last year when a policeman was killed.

Piyawat said the authorities seized an M16 assault rifle from Hasun, a shotgun, a grenade, plus 135 rounds of M16 ammunition.

Police checked and found that the same M16 had been used in about 20 attacks in which 13 people had been kiled and 12 others injured.