Night of arson and bombs hits Thailand's Muslim-majority south
Dozens of coordinated arson and bomb attacks struck Thailand's southernmost provinces overnight, damaging property including a 7-Eleven store. Three civilians were wounded.
Thailand's military reported that approximately 51 coordinated arson and incendiary attacks were carried out across the country's three southernmost provinces on Saturday night. The incidents spanned Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, the only provinces in predominantly Buddhist Thailand with Muslim majorities.
The attackers did not engage with security forces, and the violence was largely limited to property damage from small bombs and arson. Three civilians were wounded in the attacks and were reported to be recovering on Sunday.
Among the targets was a 7-Eleven convenience store in Pattani, which was shown in flames in footage from local broadcaster TPBS. Firefighters were seen dousing the blaze. Additional footage showed other structures on fire and Thai military checkpoints set up across Pattani.
The southernmost provinces have long been the site of a separatist insurgency, with Muslim residents complaining of being treated as second-class citizens. Separatist movements seeking self-rule have been periodically active in the region for decades.