A brazen attack in Pattani where four assailants on motorcycles fired repeatedly at a police sergeant’s car, seriously injuring him, while his wife seated in the back died holding their 2-month-old baby.
At 15:30 on 25 May 2026, Police Colonel Warin Wantongchai, Superintendent of Yarang Police Station in Pattani Province, received a report of a shooting incident with casualties near Prasanmoolwitthaya School, Moo 5, Phongsta Subdistrict, Yarang District, Pattani. Authorities promptly deployed officers to the scene, accompanied by Major General Santhat Chueaphuttal, Commander of the Pattani Provincial Police.
Upon arrival at the scene inside the school entrance alley, a large crowd of students and locals had gathered. A white Suzuki Swift car registered in Pattani was found with multiple bullet holes on the windshield and driver’s side.
Inside the vehicle, the deceased was found on the rear seat beside the driver. She was identified as Mrs. Fatimah Yago, 35, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a military firearm to her torso. The injured victim, Police Sergeant Adul Yisulong, 38, from the Yaring Police Station’s Patrol Unit, was rushed to Yarang Hospital. He was shot in the leg but in stable condition.
At the scene on the road, police recovered seven AK-47 cartridge casings, one bullet, three 9mm shell casings, and one 9mm bullet, all collected as evidence.
Investigation revealed that before the incident, Sergeant Adul was driving with his wife and two children to pick up their two sons at the school. Mrs. Fatimah, the deceased, was holding their 2-month-old baby in the back seat, while another child sat beside the driver. As they entered the alley, four assailants dressed as Muslim women wearing hijabs to conceal their faces, riding two motorcycles, ambushed them roadside.
Upon seeing Sergeant Adul’s car, the attackers immediately opened fire with an AK-47 and a handgun. Despite being shot, Sergeant Adul managed to drive about 300 meters into the school grounds before stopping. Upon opening the rear door, he found his wife holding their 2-month-old baby lying motionless, shot in the head and deceased. The infant sustained shrapnel wounds to the abdomen. Sergeant Adul was shot in the leg and shouted for help.
After the shooting, Major General Santhat Chueaphuttal ordered authorities to cordon off the area to keep unauthorized persons out. Forensic teams rushed to collect evidence at the scene.
Security forces were ordered to deploy widely, sealing off the area and surrounding routes. Checkpoints intensified inspections of vehicles and suspicious persons. Coordination with military units was arranged for targeted area searches. Authorities believe the attackers are insurgents linked to a group responsible for killing police officers in a shooting on 4 May.
Previously, intelligence had indicated that insurgent groups were attempting to assassinate state targets to provoke unrest.
