Muslim rebels kill 9 Buddhists
AP ^ | March 14 2007 | SUTIN WANNABOVORN
cnews.canoe.ca
Suspected Muslim insurgents hurled a bomb at a commuter van in Thailand's restive south Wednesday and then opened fire on its nine Buddhist passengers, killing all of them execution-style, police said.
The cold-blooded attack and concerns of more violence prompted officials to step up security in the south, where a Muslim insurgency has claimed more than 2,000 lives since 2004.
Suspected insurgents bombed the van as it slowed into a curve in the road, which they had also blocked with a large tree trunk, said police Lt. Kitti Mankhong, a duty officer in the Yaha district of Yala province, where the attack occurred.
Armed with assault rifles, the attackers first shot at the driver and then opened the side door of the van and fired at each of the passengers, he said. The driver, who was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the face, was the only survivor from the morning attack.
"Everyone was shot in the head at close range, execution style," Kitti said.
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