In brief
The Thai military reported over 50 coordinated arson and incendiary attacks aimed at creating unrest across the insurgency‑affected south on Saturday night. Fire spread to a local government office, a convenience store, a stolen vehicle and multiple telecommunication towers, damaging critical infrastructure. Two women were injured by a bomb detonation after a separate attack in Narathiwat’s Muang district. Security officials imposed an overnight curfew in Narathiwat which lifted on Sunday, with no further incidents reported. The long‑running insurgency, led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, has claimed thousands of lives since 2004.
More than 50 coordinated arson and incendiary attacks aimed at creating unrest were carried out by the Thai military’s Internal Security Operations Command across the insurgency‑hit south on Saturday night.
A local government office building, a convenience store and a stolen vehicle were set on fire, while two people were injured. The incidents began between 20:00 local time (13:00 GMT) and midnight in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces.
In Muang district, a bomb exploded as it struck a vehicle, injuring two women. Telecommunication towers across the region were also targeted, prompting officials to warn residents not to touch suspicious objects.
Security forces imposed an overnight curfew in Narathiwat, lifted on Sunday morning. No further attacks were reported for the rest of the weekend.
The conflict, which has seen over 7,000 people killed since 2004, is mainly led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional. Although no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks, the pattern echoes the insurgency’s longstanding strategy of targeting security officials and government facilities.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and cabinet members are scheduled to visit Hat Yai next week to negotiate investment projects, flood defence and security issues amid continued unrest.
