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Three deadly explosions hit Yala in southern Thailand, officials say | Three deadly explosions hit Yala in southern Thailand, officials say |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least eight people have been killed in three explosions in the southern Thai province of Yala, officials say. | At least eight people have been killed in three explosions in the southern Thai province of Yala, officials say. |
Yala Governor Dejrat Simsiri said the blasts occurred over 10 minutes at around midday (06:00 BST) in the commercial district of Yala city. | |
He said two of the bombs were hidden in motorcycles and the third in a car. | He said two of the bombs were hidden in motorcycles and the third in a car. |
Thailand's three southern-most provinces have been plagued by bomb attacks and shootings since 2004, when a separatist campaign reignited. | Thailand's three southern-most provinces have been plagued by bomb attacks and shootings since 2004, when a separatist campaign reignited. |
"We are not sure which group of suspected Muslim insurgents were behind this but we are looking," Mr Dejrat said. | |
The Associated Press and Reuters news agencies put the death toll from Saturday's bombings at eight, with around 70 wounded. AFP quoted a nurse in the emergency unit of Yala provincial hospital as saying nine people had died. | |
"There are nine dead now and 112 injured people sent to our hospital," the hospital worker told AFP. | |
Thai police told AFP a policeman had also been injured in a separate motorcycle attack in Mae Lan in neighbouring Pattani province. | Thai police told AFP a policeman had also been injured in a separate motorcycle attack in Mae Lan in neighbouring Pattani province. |
Thai officials said another explosion on Saturday - at a hotel in the city of Hat Yai, Songkhla province - was due to a gas leak and unrelated to the attacks, Associated Press reported. | Thai officials said another explosion on Saturday - at a hotel in the city of Hat Yai, Songkhla province - was due to a gas leak and unrelated to the attacks, Associated Press reported. |
More than 4,300 people have been killed in the violence in southern Thailand. As of 2011, the Thai army had 60,000 forces stationed in the region to tackle the insurgency. | More than 4,300 people have been killed in the violence in southern Thailand. As of 2011, the Thai army had 60,000 forces stationed in the region to tackle the insurgency. |
Thailand annexed the three provinces - Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani - in 1902, but the majority of people there are Muslim and speak a Malay dialect, in contrast with the Buddhists in the rest of the country who speak Thai. | Thailand annexed the three provinces - Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani - in 1902, but the majority of people there are Muslim and speak a Malay dialect, in contrast with the Buddhists in the rest of the country who speak Thai. |
Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of these residents. | Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of these residents. |