NARATHIWAT – A devastating bombing and subsequent shooting attack rocked Thailand’s deep south Sunday evening, leaving at least 17 people injured in what authorities believe was a coordinated insurgent assault.

Southern Thailand Unrest: Multiple Attacks Hit Narathiwat

Evening Bomb Blast Targets Police Housing

At approximately 6:30 PM, an 80-kilogram explosive device hidden inside a cooking gas cylinder detonated outside police flats near Kokkian station in Muang district. The massive explosion:

• Created a 3-meter-wide crater in the road

• Damaged a dozen nearby buildings and vehicles

• Injured 10 people, including police family members
  Investigators confirmed the bomb was timer-detonated and delivered via stolen motorcycle.

Brutal Follow-Up Shooting Attacks Civilians

Less than two hours later, gunmen struck again 35 kilometers away in Waeng district. Attackers on a motorcycle:

• Opened fire with an M16 rifle on villagers eating dinner outdoors

• Left 7 civilians wounded with gunshot injuries

• Fled the scene before security forces arrived

Improvised Explosive Device (#IED) Detonates Outside a Police Accommodation Block in Khok Khian, #Mueang District, #Narathiwat Province, #Thailand https://t.co/h1UFj8xqVg pic.twitter.com/jtRuduORs1

— TRACTerrorism (@TracTerrorism) April 22, 2025

Mounting Evidence Points to Insurgents

Security officials told reporters both attacks bear the signature of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militants, noting:

• Military-grade weapons used in both assaults

• Attacks timed to maximize terror impact

• Locations along strategic Highway 42 corridor

The violence comes amid stalled peace talks between Thailand’s government and southern separatist groups. Authorities have deployed additional troops to the region and imposed nighttime mobility restrictions in high-risk areas.

Bomb attacks rock Narathiwat and Pattani, killing five

With three victims remaining in critical condition, the death toll may still rise. Forensic teams continue processing evidence from both crime scenes.

-Thailand News (TN)