Chaos in Narathiwat as attackers planted a bomb targeting rangers, killing one and wounding two, with two civilians also injured by shrapnel while riding in a vehicle to receive the Southern Border Provinces Ranger Commander during his unit inspection visit.
At 10:30 a.m. on 11 May 2026, Police Colonel Heraman Jehdee, Chief of Waeng Police Station in Narathiwat Province, received a report of a bombing targeting a ranger pickup truck from the 11th Ranger Regiment’s Task Force 1106 on Road 4057 near Ban Maifad, Village No. 8, Kayu Klak Subdistrict. Several soldiers and civilians were wounded. He informed superiors and proceeded to the scene with Colonel Punsiri Praethanaruang, Commander of the 11th Ranger Regiment Task Force, bomb disposal officers from the Narathiwat Provincial Police, forensic officials, and other relevant authorities to investigate.
Investigators found a bomb crater beneath a culvert pipe in the middle of the road. The attackers had placed a 50-kg improvised explosive device inside a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, detonated by a battery connected via long wires extending into dense roadside forest. The crater measured 1 meter deep and 2 meters wide. Debris from the bomb was scattered across the road and thick roadside undergrowth. A black armored Isuzu pickup truck bumper without license plates was found near the crater.
Nearby on the inbound side of Waeng District, the vehicle was found overturned with its wheels facing upward. The chassis was bent on both sides, causing the pickup truck to be completely disabled. Authorities collected evidence from the scene.
Five people were injured: three soldiers and two civilians. The soldiers had been taken earlier to Su-ngai Kolok Hospital. The soldiers were identified as 1. Sergeant Adison Khamboonchuay, who sustained shrapnel wounds and later died at the hospital; 2. Staff Sergeant Komkrit Ritthapahi; and 3. Volunteer Ranger Pongsakorn Saenboonmee, both seriously injured by shrapnel and vehicle impact.
The two civilians injured were 1. Niphatphon Tiaojaroentham and 2. Asakdinan Awae, who were hurt when their motorcycle lost control and crashed.
Investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Colonel Punsiri, Commander of the 11th Ranger Regiment Task Force, ordered Staff Sergeant Komkrit Ritthapahi, team leader, to lead a group of soldiers in the pickup truck to pick up Colonel Sittisak Janbanjong, Commander of the Southern Border Provinces Ranger Task Force, in Su-ngai Kolok District. Staff Sergeant Komkrit also commanded the escort vehicles at the front and rear to accompany Colonel Sittisak on an inspection visit of the 11th Ranger Regiment unit based in Buke Ta Subdistrict, Waeng District.
As the convoy passed the bombing site, attackers believed to be hiding in the dense forest beside the road detonated the bomb placed under the culvert pipe. The explosion struck the pickup truck driven by Staff Sergeant Komkrit at the rear of the convoy, flipping it over with its wheels up. Staff Sergeant Komkrit and Volunteer Ranger Pongsakorn were injured, Sergeant Adison was killed, and two civilians on a passing motorcycle were also wounded when their vehicle crashed due to the blast.
Authorities believe the incident was orchestrated by hostile insurgent groups, as the location has previously seen multiple bombing attacks targeting security forces.