Armed gang targets Fatoni University ATM in failed Pattani raid
A group of up to five armed men storms Fatoni University in Pattani, attempting to blow open an ATM but escaping only with stolen shotguns.
Explosive attack leaves ATM untouched
Shortly before 1am on Tuesday, the attackers creep down a hill behind the university in Yarang district. They surprise two security guards at their post, tie them up, and seize their shotguns.
The gang then plants explosives on an Islamic Bank ATM beside the campus gate. The blast is powerful, echoing across the area, but fails to crack the machine’s safe. The would-be thieves flee empty-handed, leaving the cash untouched.
Thieves escape with guards’ weapons
Despite their dramatic efforts, the criminals leave with no money—just two shotguns taken from the security team. The attackers retreat up the hill, while the bound guards watch helplessly.
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) confirms the details. “The failed attack shows militants are desperate for funds, regardless of public safety,” a spokesperson says.
Link to gold heist in Narathiwat?
The botched ATM raid comes just two days after a major gold shop robbery in Narathiwat, where thieves made off with gold worth 24 million Baht—some sources say 36 million. Authorities suspect both crimes aim to finance rebel activities in southern Thailand.
August saw a string of coordinated ATM attacks in the region, and another gold shop in Songkhla was recently hit. The pattern is clear: militant groups in the south are growing bolder in their search for cash.
Police hunt for Pattani gang
Isoc launches a manhunt for the five suspects, investigating possible links to other attacks in Thailand’s troubled southern provinces.
Fatoni University sits at the heart of a conflict zone, where separatist violence is a daily threat. Attacks on banks and businesses are common, but the level of force is rising.