NARATHIWAT — The Fourth Army Region has condemned the armed robbery at a Narathiwat gold shop as a criminal act by insurgents desperate for funding, following a sophisticated multi-stage attack that injured a soldier and terrorized the border town of Su-ngai Kolok.
Coordinated Attack Timeline
Lt. Gen. Naratip Poinok, Commander of the Fourth Army Region and Director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command, issued a statement detailing the October 5 incident:
6:30 p.m. — Suspicious object resembling a 15kg gas cylinder found near Provincial Electricity Authority office
6:33 p.m. — Hooded suspects spotted placing the object and firing shots into the air
6:36 p.m. — Armed gang robbed Yaowarat Bangkok Gold Shop inside Big C mall, seizing an undisclosed amount of gold
6:47 p.m. — Sgt. Maj. Burisvorn Radachai of the Peace Task Force shot while attempting to retrieve his service weapon from his vehicle; now in stable condition
6:55 p.m. — Explosion reported near Toluebae railway area
7:45 p.m. — Second explosion in Keha community housing area
Authorities also discovered caltrops scattered across multiple road points and a suspected improvised explosive device near Big C, believed intended to block pursuit.
Stolen Vehicles Located
The attackers used two stolen pickup trucks: a bronze-silver Isuzu D-Max taken at 5:00 p.m. from Palu Ru subdistrict and a Toyota Vigo stolen at 5:20 p.m. Both vehicles were found abandoned October 6 in Ban Tor-or, Kayu Khla subdistrict, Waeng district. EOD teams and forensic units secured the area.
Pattern Points to BRN Insurgency
Lt. Gen. Naratip linked the robbery to previous attacks targeting economic infrastructure, including multiple ATM heists on August 31, 2025, and the 60-million-baht Suthada gold shop robbery in Nathawi district, Songkhla, on August 24, 2019. The attack patterns suggest involvement by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group.
“This indicates the insurgent movement lacks operational funds due to intensive crackdowns on their financial pipelines, including drug trafficking, contraband smuggling, and illegal fuel trade,” the statement said.
‘Bandits, Not Ideologues’
The Fourth Army statement condemned the perpetrators as criminals rather than ideological fighters: “This group does not act according to the ideology they claim to the people. They are merely bandits who do everything for their own benefit, without regard for the suffering of citizens and the economic system.”
The command ordered maximum deployment across urban and forested areas, activated 100% readiness under the economic city defense plan, and coordinated with Malaysian authorities to prevent cross-border escape.
Public Warning
Authorities warned that anyone providing shelter, hideouts, or supplies to the attackers could face up to two years imprisonment and fines up to 40,000 baht ($1,230) under Section 189 of the Criminal Code.
The Fourth Army urged residents to report suspicious persons, objects, or information through official channels as the manhunt continues.
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