Suspected insurgents bomb three petrol stations in southern Thailand

Suspected insurgents bombed three petrol stations, injuring one resident in southern Thailand.

The alleged terrorists reportedly attacked the PT fuel stations in Yala and Pattani provinces before simultaneously detonating the explosives on Sunday night, June 28.

Footage shows flames engulfing fuel pumps as firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze.

Authorities said one person was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command said around six black-clad suspects had earlier arrived on motorcycles before ordering locals at the petrol stations to leave.

They then split into two groups, with one group securing the perimeter while the other planted explosive devices.

ISOC said the attacks showed 'a disregard for the lives and property of innocent civilians' and were intended to instil fear among the public.

Following the explosions, officials secured the affected areas and collected evidence to identify those responsible.

They added that security measures have also been strengthened across the area to prevent further attacks.

On January 11, a wave of suspected terrorist attacks hit 11 petrol stations across Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala.

Army chiefs briefly imposed martial law in the idyllic coastal province of Narathiwat but later lifted the measure saying the threat was manageable.

Islamic separatist terror attacks target the three southernmost provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - next to the border with Mulsim neighbors Malaysia. Thai state employees and infrastructure are often hit while attacks on civilians are rare.

Officials believe the conflict dates to a deal in 1909 that the British Empire struck to incorporate the Muslim region into the Siamese mainland.

The region's culture is more similar to Malaysia and dramatically different to Buddhist Thais causing decades of tension that lead to the emergence of separatist groups fighting for independence in the 1960s.

The struggle has continued ever since with more than 7,344 people killed and 13,641 injured between January 2004 and March 2022.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office warns against all but essential travel to the region while Canada's government warns its nationals to 'avoid all travel' to the three provinces.