PUBLISHED: 22 Sep 2024 at 12:23
NARATHIWAT: A shocking incident unfolded Saturday night as approximately 20 armed individuals stormed the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, taking four officials hostage, stealing firearms, and setting fire to multiple buildings within the complex.
Attapon Charoenchansa, the director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, confirmed that the assailants, dressed in black and heavily armed, captured the officials while they were housed in their quarters. The attack, characterized by explosions and arson, lasted roughly 50 minutes.
Fortunately, some personnel managed to escape and reached a nearby village to report the incident.
Security forces quickly responded with an armored vehicle, arriving to find the attackers had already fled the scene.
Upon inspection, officials discovered that a firearms cabinet at the sanctuary’s office had been broken into, resulting in the theft of several guns. Among the damaged structures was a tourist bungalow, and the incident also involved the destruction of government vehicles parked on the premises.
The Crime Suppression Division reported that the attack occurred at around 5:45 PM, with an estimated 10 firearms stolen. Local residents expressed deep concern over this being the first attack at the sanctuary office in three decades, viewing the sanctuary as a vital center for education on hornbill conservation.
