Incident Summary:
03/18/2009: On Wednesday morning, in one of three linked attacks, Thai security forces defused two of four bombs planted in three different locations in Surat Thani and Kanchanadit districts, Surat Thani province, Thailand. One bomb was planted behind a large billboard in front of the Democrat Party s provincial headquarters at the three-way Khoo Ha junction in tambon Katae of Kanchanadit district. The Thai government described the attacks as an attempt to discredit Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, however no group claimed responsibility for the incident.
Overview
GTD ID:
200903180011
When:
2009-03-18
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Southeast Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Surat Thani
City:
Surat
Location Details:
The attempted bombing took place at the Democrat Party s provincial headquarters at the three-way Khoo Ha junction in Tambon Katae of Kanchanadit district in Surat Thani, Thailand.
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
Successful Attack? () |
No |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Government (General) |
Name of Entity |
Democrat Party |
Specific Description |
The Democrat Party s provincial headquarters |
Nationality of Target |
Thailand |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
No |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Explosives |
Remote Trigger |
Weapon Details |
An improvised explosive device was used in the attack. |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | Yes |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
This was one of three related attacks (200903180012,200903180013 ). The most recent available sources listed the explosives used for this attack from five to four, so the majority casualty figures have been used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. The most recent available sources listed the number of explosives for the first attack from two to one, so the majority explosive figures have been used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. Improvised explosive devices, IEDs, consisting of two plastic pipes and 2 kilograms of explosives, were used in the attack. The containers were stuffed with diesel-soaked ammonium nitrate, dynamite and a detonator cap, and were wired to a mobile phone. The last two roadside bombs were not connected to a detonator. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Unknown |
No |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
Antara.com, "Four Bomb Dound in Suratthani," http://antara.co.id/en/arc/2009/3/18/four-bombs-found-in-thai-government-stronghold-police/ (April 03, 2009). |
Associated Press, "Thai PM Says Bombs Planted to Discredit Government," LexisNexis Academic, Associated Press, March 19, 2009. |
Thai Press Reports, "Thailand Bombs Effused in Surat Thani," LexisNexis Academic, Thai Press Reports, March 19, 2009. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties