Multiple bomb blasts and arson attacks struck Narathiwat and Yala yesterday, injuring two people and prompting a curfew across parts of the southern border provinces.
Officials from the Narathiwat Special Task Force said the unrest hit 11 locations across the province, damaging vehicles, telecommunications infrastructure and government property.
In Rangae district, an explosion struck a road connecting two villages at 8.15pm, though no injuries were reported. A tambon administration organisation office in Bongo was later set alight, and a pickup truck went missing from the scene during the attack.
Nearby, tyres were burned and a backhoe was torched near a bridge, while further explosions and fires broke out in Cho Airong district, including one near a telecommunications tower. A separate tyre fire was reported on Highway 42 in Yi-ngo district.
The most serious incident occurred in Sungai Padi district, where an explosion struck a car carrying five people shortly after it passed a mosque intersection. Shrapnel damaged the vehicle and injured two women, who were taken to hospital.
Attacks spread to Yala
In Yala’s Than To district, suspected insurgents set fire to telecommunications towers run by two networks and torched two vehicles belonging to a tambon administration organisation.
Sungai Kolok district chief Sopiyan Daemoleng said a preliminary investigation found that suspected insurgents had planted a bomb at a roadside shelter outside the local branch of the Narathiwat Provincial Transport Office. No injuries or deaths were reported, and officials cordoned off the area while the investigation continued.
Curfew imposed, residents urged to stay indoors
Sopiyan said Sungai Kolok immediately tightened security and temporarily closed routes into and out of the town, including connections to Tak Bai district, to allow officials to screen people and vehicles.
He urged residents to remain in their accommodation and avoid unnecessary travel so security teams could carry out their work.
The Narathiwat Special Task Force later imposed a curfew from 10.15pm yesterday until 6am today in response to the string of incidents.
The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command urged the public to stay vigilant, avoid attack sites and refrain from approaching suspicious objects. It also warned against posting photographs, videos or the real time locations of security personnel, saying this could compromise ongoing operations.
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