Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK5610
2006-09-13 04:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: ANALYZING THE BOMBS
VZCZCXRO1250 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #5610/01 2560413 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130413Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1567 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: ANALYZING THE BOMBS
REF: A. BANGKOK 05349 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: BANKS BOMBED
IN YALA)
B. BANGKOK 05230 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: UPDATED
VIOLENCE STATISTICS)
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON. REASON 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: ANALYZING THE BOMBS
REF: A. BANGKOK 05349 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: BANKS BOMBED
IN YALA)
B. BANGKOK 05230 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: UPDATED
VIOLENCE STATISTICS)
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON. REASON 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary. In a September 6 meeting at the
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok,
instructors from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) met with senior Thai police
officials responsible for southern Thailand to discuss ATF
analysis of bomb evidence from the South and the recent
multiple bomb attacks in Yala province (ref A). Per this
analysis and discussion, the majority of bombs appear to be
constructed by a handful of individuals, almost all are
composed of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel
oil--although in the wrong proportion, lowering their
effectiveness--and only a single bomb has used military grade
explosives. Police have arrested six people in connection to
the August 31 Yala bombings. End Summary.
2. (C) Based on evidence collected by Royal Thai Police
(RTP) officers from Region IX (the South) and the
Bangkok-based Crime Suppression Division's forensic unit, ATF
officers--who were in Bangkok conducting the Post Blast
Investigation course at ILEA--have produced a study on the
composition of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the
South. They met with RTP officers on September 6 to discuss
their analysis. Per ref B, while shooting attacks remain the
primary type of violence in the restive South--and
responsible for the majority of deaths--high-profile bombings
designed to garner attention but not cause wide casualties
appear to be increasing in number.
ATF ANALYSIS
--------------
3. (C) According to the ATF analysis, there are only four
unique construction signatures for at least 70 percent of all
of the IEDs in southern Thailand, suggesting that only a
handful of individuals are producing the majority of bombs.
Almost all IEDs in the South are composed of easily available
ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil (ANFO) with TNT
boosters. The mix of fertilizer and fuel oil is not optimal,
however, leading to less powerful IEDs. The ATF officers
noted that the bomb makers were still making consistent
mistakes and producing inefficient devices. The IED attack
in Songkhla on August 3 that killed three police and wounded
another appears to be the first and only bomb attack that
used the correct mix of ingredients.
4. (C) Only one bomb using military-grade explosives (C4) has
been found in the South, in the June 16 attempted bombing of
the city hall in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat province (the
device was defused by police). Most IEDs rely on hot-glue,
vice solder, in their construction. The majority of IEDs in
the South are relatively small in size, but larger, buried
devices have been used as well; the largest so far was
composed of 15 kilograms of ANFO. A series of ANFO bombs
constructed out of small fire extinguishers and packed with
cut-up pieces of rebar have been used in all three provinces,
including two high-profile attempts to blow up bridges. In a
surprising wrinkle, almost every IED has used the same exact
type of relay. When presented with this clear lead, the
senior RTP general present betrayed the Thai police's
aversion to following physical evidence by scoffing that it
would be too hard to figure out which company manufactured
the relay and where it was sold in the South. The ATF
instructors explained that their analysts in the United
States had, in fact, traced this particular relay to a single
Chinese industrial supplier on the internet and that tracing
its distribution was not impossible.
YALA BANK BOMBS
--------------
5. (C) When asked about the August 31 spate of bomb attacks
in Yala province (ref A),RTP officials explained that all of
the 27 IEDs used on that day appear to be ANFO IEDs, placed
inside a small case hand-constructed from iron support beams.
While the size of the charges involved were small, the
uniformity of their construction was striking. Almost all of
them had been placed in hollowed-out books bearing the title
(in Thai and English) "Iran the Cradle of Civilization."
Like previous IEDs in the South, these devices used cheap,
locally purchased cell phones as initiators. In a
twist--possibly reflecting the increasing use of cell-phone
BANGKOK 00005610 002 OF 002
jammers by the police--the cell phones's internal alarm clock
was used to initiate the explosion; these IEDs were not
dependent upon an outside signal. Most of the devices used
local newspapers as packing material--one partially destroyed
page was an article about Thai police bomb investigation
teams, suggesting that the bomb-makers are following RTG
tactics with interest.
6. (C) While the investigation into the Yala bombings is
ongoing, police have arrested at least six people suspected
of having planted the bombs. RTP officials are convinced
that local technical students are behind the latest attacks,
given the relative sophistication of the devices and witness
reports that those placing the bombs were dressed as young
students. At least one woman was reportedly involved in
delivering an IED. Many of these arrests were based upon
low-quality closed circuit television camera footage from
within the target banks. Those arrested, however, appear to
be low-level "gophers" who were paid 2000 Thai Baht (about
$50, U.S.) to deliver the IEDs to their targets (Note. Only
one person has ever been arrested for manufacturing IEDs in
the South over the past two years, in a raid in Narathiwat
earlier this year. End Note.) One suspect in the Yala
bombings was arrested based on witness information.
Apparently this suspect actually deposited his new 2000 Baht
windfall in a local bank immediately before leaving an IED in
the same branch.
ARVIZU
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR TH
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: ANALYZING THE BOMBS
REF: A. BANGKOK 05349 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: BANKS BOMBED
IN YALA)
B. BANGKOK 05230 (SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: UPDATED
VIOLENCE STATISTICS)
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON. REASON 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary. In a September 6 meeting at the
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok,
instructors from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) met with senior Thai police
officials responsible for southern Thailand to discuss ATF
analysis of bomb evidence from the South and the recent
multiple bomb attacks in Yala province (ref A). Per this
analysis and discussion, the majority of bombs appear to be
constructed by a handful of individuals, almost all are
composed of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel
oil--although in the wrong proportion, lowering their
effectiveness--and only a single bomb has used military grade
explosives. Police have arrested six people in connection to
the August 31 Yala bombings. End Summary.
2. (C) Based on evidence collected by Royal Thai Police
(RTP) officers from Region IX (the South) and the
Bangkok-based Crime Suppression Division's forensic unit, ATF
officers--who were in Bangkok conducting the Post Blast
Investigation course at ILEA--have produced a study on the
composition of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the
South. They met with RTP officers on September 6 to discuss
their analysis. Per ref B, while shooting attacks remain the
primary type of violence in the restive South--and
responsible for the majority of deaths--high-profile bombings
designed to garner attention but not cause wide casualties
appear to be increasing in number.
ATF ANALYSIS
--------------
3. (C) According to the ATF analysis, there are only four
unique construction signatures for at least 70 percent of all
of the IEDs in southern Thailand, suggesting that only a
handful of individuals are producing the majority of bombs.
Almost all IEDs in the South are composed of easily available
ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil (ANFO) with TNT
boosters. The mix of fertilizer and fuel oil is not optimal,
however, leading to less powerful IEDs. The ATF officers
noted that the bomb makers were still making consistent
mistakes and producing inefficient devices. The IED attack
in Songkhla on August 3 that killed three police and wounded
another appears to be the first and only bomb attack that
used the correct mix of ingredients.
4. (C) Only one bomb using military-grade explosives (C4) has
been found in the South, in the June 16 attempted bombing of
the city hall in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat province (the
device was defused by police). Most IEDs rely on hot-glue,
vice solder, in their construction. The majority of IEDs in
the South are relatively small in size, but larger, buried
devices have been used as well; the largest so far was
composed of 15 kilograms of ANFO. A series of ANFO bombs
constructed out of small fire extinguishers and packed with
cut-up pieces of rebar have been used in all three provinces,
including two high-profile attempts to blow up bridges. In a
surprising wrinkle, almost every IED has used the same exact
type of relay. When presented with this clear lead, the
senior RTP general present betrayed the Thai police's
aversion to following physical evidence by scoffing that it
would be too hard to figure out which company manufactured
the relay and where it was sold in the South. The ATF
instructors explained that their analysts in the United
States had, in fact, traced this particular relay to a single
Chinese industrial supplier on the internet and that tracing
its distribution was not impossible.
YALA BANK BOMBS
--------------
5. (C) When asked about the August 31 spate of bomb attacks
in Yala province (ref A),RTP officials explained that all of
the 27 IEDs used on that day appear to be ANFO IEDs, placed
inside a small case hand-constructed from iron support beams.
While the size of the charges involved were small, the
uniformity of their construction was striking. Almost all of
them had been placed in hollowed-out books bearing the title
(in Thai and English) "Iran the Cradle of Civilization."
Like previous IEDs in the South, these devices used cheap,
locally purchased cell phones as initiators. In a
twist--possibly reflecting the increasing use of cell-phone
BANGKOK 00005610 002 OF 002
jammers by the police--the cell phones's internal alarm clock
was used to initiate the explosion; these IEDs were not
dependent upon an outside signal. Most of the devices used
local newspapers as packing material--one partially destroyed
page was an article about Thai police bomb investigation
teams, suggesting that the bomb-makers are following RTG
tactics with interest.
6. (C) While the investigation into the Yala bombings is
ongoing, police have arrested at least six people suspected
of having planted the bombs. RTP officials are convinced
that local technical students are behind the latest attacks,
given the relative sophistication of the devices and witness
reports that those placing the bombs were dressed as young
students. At least one woman was reportedly involved in
delivering an IED. Many of these arrests were based upon
low-quality closed circuit television camera footage from
within the target banks. Those arrested, however, appear to
be low-level "gophers" who were paid 2000 Thai Baht (about
$50, U.S.) to deliver the IEDs to their targets (Note. Only
one person has ever been arrested for manufacturing IEDs in
the South over the past two years, in a raid in Narathiwat
earlier this year. End Note.) One suspect in the Yala
bombings was arrested based on witness information.
Apparently this suspect actually deposited his new 2000 Baht
windfall in a local bank immediately before leaving an IED in
the same branch.
ARVIZU