The robbery of Wangto Car Center in Na Thawee district served as the opening act in a dramatic series of events, including a hostage-taking, shootout, explosion, safe disposal of a bomb and two deaths of hostage Saharat Laeni and suspected insurgent Nur-asan Awae.

Prawit told reporters at the War Veterans Organization of Thailand in Bangkok that people should not jump to the conclusion that the suspected insurgents’ daring attack stemmed from loopholes in Thai security operations. “The three southern border provinces cover a vast area,” said Prawit.

“Who would have thought they would strike at Songkhla? Our officers are not lax, because they quickly intercepted the stolen trucks and their investigation points to the same old group and they even identified four suspects,” he said.

Prawit said the tight security measures in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat had forced the insurgents to conduct the robbery in Songkhla instead. Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdech Sitabutr said that he suspects that a long-standing group such as Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) might be behind the robbery , in a bid to maintain their presence in the insurgency movement.

Udomdech said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed the Thai negotiation team to include more groups in talks with separatists, in order to end violence in the region. Udomdech said that the insurgents were looking for opportunities to carry out violent acts.

While officers must be on guard, the public should also be alert for suspicious activities. He said certain areas in the deep South, comprising the three provinces and Songkhla’s four districts, still had security loopholes that allowed the insurgents to strike.