Gunmen ambush Prachachat MP in Narathiwat; two aides critically injured

2026-03-20 - 02:40

NARATHIWAT — 20 March 2026, A member of parliament from the Prachachat Party narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle outside his home in Bacho district early on Friday, leaving two aides seriously wounded. The attack occurred at 01:09 local time when an unidentified group of assailants travelling in a white four-door pickup truck trailed and then overtook the vehicle of Kamolsak Leewamoh, 59, MP for Narathiwat’s constituency 5. According to initial reports, the gunmen reversed their vehicle and fired more than 10 rounds from what authorities described as a military-style firearm at the black Toyota Alphard carrying Kamolsak and his aides. The shooting took place in front of his residence on Phetkasem Road in tambon Bacho. Two people in the vehicle were critically injured: the driver, Uchalumh Koloh, 55, and Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Harirak Heemmina, 43, a police officer assigned to the MP’s security detail. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were rushed by local residents to Bacho Hospital before being transferred to Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital. Kamolsak, who had been returning from Hat Yai, survived unhurt after lying down across the back seat when he heard gunfire, narrowly avoiding the bullets. CCTV footage from nearby homes captured the incident, showing the attackers overtaking the MP’s vehicle before reversing and opening fire, then fleeing the scene towards central Bacho. Police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the suspects. Motive for the attack was not immediately known.