Thai Militants Steal Huge Explosive Cache
BANGKOK, Thailand, March 31 (UPI) -- Militants staged an armed raid on a quarry in southern Thailand and stole more than a ton of explosive fertilizer, dynamite and detonators, the BBC reported.
The attack by 10 masked men took place in Yala province, one of three mainly Muslim states under martial law since unrest started in January.
After tying up two security guards, 10 masked men took 1.4 tons of ammonium nitrate, commonly used as a fertilizer, 58 sticks of dynamite and 180 detonators, police said Wednesday.
Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula, said he feared the militants would attack tourist destinations during April's water festival, known as Songkran.
"I suspect that the culprits behind this heist are aiming to strike before or during Songkran in order to terrify tourists and make a strong impact on the tourism industry," he said.
Saturday, a motorcycle bomb exploded outside a tourist bar in the town of Sungai Kolok, in Narathiwat province. About 30 people were injured, including a number of Malaysian tourists.