Narathiwat, at 8:35 AM on February 23rd, 2025, – An explosion occurred near the air traffic control tower at Narathiwat Airport hours before Thaksin Shinawatra’s scheduled arrival, injuring four airport personnel.
Police found that a homemade bomb, weighing 2-3 kilograms and remotely detonated, was hidden in a metal box and placed under a fire department pickup truck near the fuel tank.
Fortunately, the blast lacked shrapnel, preventing further damage. The injured were treated and later discharged, according to the police. Authorities suspect the attack was meant as a symbolic act of disruption, coinciding with the visit of a high-profile figure. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage to track when the device was planted.
The explosion took place just hours before former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s scheduled arrival in Narathiwat. His visit marks his first return to Thailand’s Deep South in 19 years, aiming to discuss development plans with local leaders.
