Thai tourist town attackers linked to southern insurgents, say police

BANGKOK // Two suspects in a spate of bomb attacks on Thailand’s tourist towns have links to southern Muslim rebels, police said on Monday, the first time a clear link has been made to the insurgency.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing and arson spree that hit popular resorts across the south this month, killing four and wounding dozens including European visitors.

But the attacks have heightened concerns that the ethnic Malay insurgency may have spread north after years of stalled peace talks – a theory the country’s junta has played down given the importance of tourism to the economy.

Three arrest warrants for Muslim men from the south have now been issued by a military court.

Usmeen Katemmadee, a 29-year-old from Pattani province who was named in the latest warrant issued on Monday, is wanted for bomb possession and arson over an attack on the town of Hua Hin, where a double blast killed two people.

Two earlier warrants were issued for a man called Ahama Lengha from Narathiwat province and a man named Russalan Baima from neighbouring Songkhla.

Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy national police spokesman, said both Ahama and Usmeen had previous links to the southern insurgency.

“The first suspect (Ahama) is directly linked with the insurgency by DNA while the third suspect (Usmeen) has had arrest warrants previously issued for the possession of firearms, explosives and some other charges.”

He said it was not yet clear if Russalan was linked to the revolt.

More than 6,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in 12 years of violence between the Buddhist-majority state and the rebels who are seeking greater autonomy in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces.

Until now the violence has remained almost entirely local, with the militants previously wary of attacking foreigners for fear of sparking an international backlash.

* Agence France-Presse