5 Killed, 13 Injured in Attacks in Thailand

Five people were killed and 13 others injured in two attacks in Thailand’s restive southern provinces, police reported on Sunday.

Southern Thailand has faced a violent insurgency since 2004, with over 7,000 deaths as Muslim separatist groups seek greater autonomy in the region.

The first attack occurred in the border town of Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat province, where more than 10 gunmen opened fire outside a government building around 7:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

The assailants threw explosives and detonated bombs, killing two volunteer defense personnel and injuring 12 others, including four civilians, according to provincial police.

A second attack took place later that night in neighboring Pattani province. A roadside bomb exploded in Saiburi district around 11:00 p.m., killing three individuals—two local village assistants and a security officer. Another person was injured in the blast.

Southern Thailand, home to a predominantly Muslim population, has long been culturally distinct from the rest of the Buddhist-majority nation, which took control of the region over a century ago. The area remains heavily patrolled by Thai security forces.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated on Sunday that security measures in the south would be reinforced, particularly during nighttime shifts, to counter the ongoing threat of insurgent attacks.