Asia-Pacific

Thailand's Deep South hit by serial bombings

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-02 16:40

BANGKOK - Eight bomb attacks by suspected insurgents?blasted various places Tuesday morning?in?the southernmost province of Thailand and?banks?seem to?be the main targets, the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) reported.

According to the bureau, which is?under the state-owned Public Relations Department, the bomb attacks started from 6.40 am local time, as four five-kilogram-weight bombs were separately planted at various spots in ?Narathiwas province, including three in the city of Narathiwas and one in Ranage district. Two local residents got injured.

Among the four attacked spots are branches of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) in the city of Narathiwas and Rangae district, and inside the Automatic Transfer Machine (ATM) of Krung Thai Bank PCL (KTB) in the city of Narathiwas.

A street cleaner was injured in the explosion at the KTB's ATM in Narathiwas city and a villager wounded in the bombing accident at the ATM of the GSB bank's branch in Ranage district.

Meanwhile, a suspected item was found in front of the KTB bank' s branch in Rangae district and it was under investigation. ? ?

Moreover, an army patrol force in Bajoh district was also attacked by another a bomb of suspected insurgents, but no one was injured.

Another two spots in this district were also found planted with bombs.

The series of bombing incidents in Deep South took place days after four branches of Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest commercial bank, in the capital city and a nearby province were attacked by grenades Saturday night.

Thailand's deep South comprises mainly the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwas, and the four districts of Song-kla province.

Over 3,500 people have been killed in the daily violence by the suspected separatists since January 2004.