SONGKHLA: Thai police have identified a group suspected to be the mastermind behind the bomb blast on the railway track at Sadao here on Saturday.
Deputy police chief of the Ninth Division Major General Piyawat Chalermsi said a security squad had intensified its inspection of the closed circuit cameras (CCTV) at all the entry points to the place.
"We have identified the militant group which masterminded the bomb blast. The group has active operations in Sadao.
"Investigations revealed a group of suspects were in the vicinity of the scene to activate the bomb which was placed below the tracks," he said.
The motive was believed to be revenge for the death of group members in October and February.
On Saturday, a freight train carrying rubber en route from Hatyai to Padang Besar derailed after a bomb blast on the railway tracks in Sadao.
In the incident at 12.50pm (local time), 11 of the 15 container wagons were damaged and derailed.
Police found a homemade bomb weighing about 26kg on the tracks.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said that no injuries were reported involving the train workers on the train consisting of two drivers, a technician and other workers.
The blast, however, caused severe damage to the rail tracks.
The Hatyai-Padang Besar railway line will be closed for several days to carry out repair work. — Bernama