Governor Sophon chaired a special security meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, attended by senior police, military and administrative officials, to review security measures following the discovery of suspicious objects at Phuket International Airport, Patong Beach and Laem Phromthep. All the devices have since been safely destroyed.
Following the meeting, Governor Sophon assured the public that the incidents posed no further threat.
“The objects made a loud noise but contained no shrapnel or explosive material. They appear to have been intended to create panic in the tourist city, not to harm lives,” he said.
The Governor emphasised that security has now been stepped up across the island. Police patrols from all 11 district stations will conduct random checks, and village headmen will closely monitor people entering their communities, especially anyone behaving suspiciously.
Additional screening will be enforced at key checkpoints, including Tha Chatchai, where authorities plan to introduce advanced facial recognition and dangerous goods detection systems in the near future.
Governor Sophon also moved to reassure the tourism sector, noting that he has formally informed travel agencies that Phuket remains safe for visitors. “We ask local residents and tourists to immediately report any suspicious objects or behavior to nearby officers. Phuket people must work together to keep our island safe and protect our tourism industry,” he urged.
When asked whether the incidents were linked to unrest in Thailand’s three southern border provinces, the Governor said the connection was still being investigated. However, initial information suggests that the individuals involved are from those areas.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum confirmed that the three devices found ‒ at Phuket Airport, Patong Beach and Laem Phromthep ‒ were not intended to cause casualties.
“One of the objects was hidden beneath a cement base at Laem Phromthep, covered by rocks in an area where people do not usually go. The placement indicates no intent to harm,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether any further devices remain and to track the movements of the suspects. Police are also analysing whether the timing and numerical references associated with the incidents have any specific meaning.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert added that the suspects entered the province using legitimate, legally registered vehicles without raising any red flags at checkpoints.
Authorities are continuing to monitor all major tourist attractions while reinforcing security measures to ensure public safety, he said.
PHUMTHAM WARNS OVER BOMB TALK
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday (June 26) urged the public not to link the Phuket airport bomb scare to unrest in the deep South, warning that premature conclusions could damage the nation’s image.
Mr Phumtham, who is also the defence minister, clarified that no confirmation had been made regarding the nature of the incident, in which a motorcycle suspected to be rigged with explosives was found parked near the domestic terminal on Wednesday.
“A concerned citizen reported the suspicious vehicle. Officials investigated and recovered chemical substances and components, which have been sent to the police forensic division for examination,” he said, reports the Bangkok Post.
When asked whether the substances found were explosive materials, he said results were still pending and that any assumptions would be premature and potentially harmful.
Regarding the potential impact on Phuket’s tourism, Mr Phumtham stressed that making unfounded claims would only fuel unnecessary alarm.
“There is no indication that this incident is related to terrorism or the southern insurgency. Linking it to such matters would only cause damage and panic,” he said.
He added that Phuket has rarely faced incidents related to unrest in the southernmost provinces, and any attempt to connect the two could create confusion and adversely affect national interests.
In response to the incident, Phuket Airport Director Monchai Tanode led a safety inspection of the premises to reassure travellers. Authorities have since heightened security measures and called for public cooperation in following safety protocols to maintain service convenience and public confidence.
The suspect in the case, identified as Mahama Wadeh, confessed during interrogation that he and others had planted three bombs, including a motorcycle bomb intended for the airport. He detailed his group’s movements through Yala, Krabi, and Phuket, describing how the bombs were disguised using food delivery bags and hidden under motorcycle seats.
Two other suspects were also implicated in coordinated attempts to detonate devices at Laem Phromthep and Patong Beach in Phuket.
Meanwhile, EOD units in Krabi safely defused three homemade bombs yesterday.
The first time-bomb was planted near a major intersection in the city centre, only 30 metres from the provincial police station.
Officials noted that the timing devices resembled those found on suspects arrested earlier this week in Phang Nga. Later in the day, authorities discovered two additional improvised devices at a campsite in Muang Krabi.