Violence flares in Southern Thailand: Convenience store bombed, checkpoint attacked

Violence has persisted in Thailand's southern provinces, predominantly populated by ethnic Malays, for a third consecutive day. In Pattani province, a group of armed individuals detonated a bomb at a convenience store and launched an assault on a checkpoint on Tuesday evening.

The initial incident occurred around 8 p.m. when four gunmen reportedly stormed a convenience store in Ban Ta Bae, Mukim Lanaga, Mayo District. They allegedly fired shots into the air to clear the premises before planting an improvised explosive device and a Molotov cocktail, intending to cause a large fire. An explosion followed, and the store was engulfed in flames. The group then clashed with rangers on patrol before fleeing on motorcycles.

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Shortly after the group fled, an explosion occurred, followed by a fire that destroyed the store.

Following the store bombing, security forces apprehended two suspects in their 30s for further investigation. In a second incident around 8:20 p.m., approximately 10 armed individuals attacked a checkpoint belonging to the Langga Subdistrict Protection Unit. A brief firefight ensued before the attackers escaped. No casualties or fatalities have been reported in either incident.

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So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported in both incidents.