One killed, three injured in train explosion in Pattani

A railway worker was killed and three other co-workers were injured when a train they were handling was hit by a bomb after passing the Nikom Khokpo station here today.

In the 5.45pm incident, the six-carriage train carrying 100 passengers was travelling from Sungai Golok to Hatyai when it was hit by a 20kg bomb, which was planted on the railway tracks.

However, none of the passengers were injured.

Pattani police chief, Major-General Thanongsak Wangsupa said the victim who died was identified as Chavalit Khonpan, 53, adding that the three other workers were in the last carriage which had no passengers.

He said the train had stopped at the station and was beginning to move when the bomb exploded at the tail end of the train which caused the last carriage to split into two sections.

"One of the injured, a female staff suffered serious injuries. The victim who was killed died on the spot. The injured victims were sent to Pattani Hospital for treatment," he told reporters.

The bomb explosion left a crater about one metre deep and two metres wide Thanongsak said, adding that police were tracking down those who had orchestrated the attack.