| Or was it the bomb suits? |
The bomb disposal squad chief said the officers were unable to totally block the surrounding mobile phone signal, so the terrorists were able to detonate the five kilogram bomb remotely. The two officers were so close to the bomb that their anti-blast gear could not protect them. "The bomb suit could only reduce the violence," Pol Snr Sgt Maj Swang said on Tuesday.
Their deaths have raised issues about the performance of bomb suits and bomb disposal robots.
One member of another bomb disposal unit in southern Thailand said he believed the bomb experts could have handled the situation better. They could have shot at the bomb or fixed the robot without touching the explosive device, he said.
Bomb squad officers were aware of the limitations of the bomb suits.
"When disposing of a bomb, a mistake means a potential loss of life. You can't blame it on the suit," he said.
"The protective gear is designed to cushion the impact of a blast. It cannot protect against a big bomb."
However, the source admitted that the bomb suits worn by the men were substandard because their five-year service term had expired. The source also cast doubts on the effectiveness of the bomb disposal robot, which is equipped with a high-pressure water gun only.
A senate committee on southern problems is investigating the incident. The panel's chairman, Anusart Suwanmongkol, wants to hear evidence about the effectiveness of the bomb suits and the robots.