Pregnant woman killed in shooting incident in Southern Thailand

A woman who was nine months' pregnant was killed and her friend seriously injured when they were shot at while on a motorcycle in Palas, Panarek in the restive southern Thailand province of Pattani, yesterday.

Panarek police Investigation Division chief, Capt. Norawit Thongsod said in the 7.20pm incident, Rattikan Chawang, 26, died at the scene from a gunshot to her head while her female friend Saijai Thongdee, also 26, suffered a gunshot wound on her body.

"The two victims were shot at by unknown assassins who were also riding a motorcycle while they were buying fried chicken from a stall located only 200 metres away from the Thai Rangers security post," he said, here, today.

Norawit said doctors at a nearby hospital tried to save Rattikan's unborn child but failed, while the other victim was now receiving intensive treatment at the hospital.

He said the authorities were still investigating the motive of the shooting and tracking down the shooters who fled towards Mayo after the attack. -- Bernama