Three bombs target police accommodation in restive southern Thailand

Three bombs exploded at police accommodation in Thailand's restive south this afternoon.

The blasts ripped through a food stall, bin and parked pickup truck near the building in Pattani province at 1.20pm local time.

Police Colonel Jeffrey Saimankun, superintendent of Pattani Police Station, said the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team went the scene following the first explosion.

They reportedly found that the first bomb had been planted at a closed stall on the side of the road, causing only rubble and bomb parts to be scattered around, with no casualties.

After securing the area for about 20 minutes, another bomb exploded inside a trash can near a guard post approximately 656 feet (200 metres) away. 

The explosion caused shrapnel to hit a nearby electric pole and guard post, but no one was harmed.

While authorities were inspecting the second bomb, they noticed a white Isuzu pickup truck with a foam box on the back parked suspiciously close to the police flat. 

As two police officers were using an armoured vehicle to inspect the second bomb, the bomb planted in the pickup truck detonated. 

The explosion caused shrapnel to hit the armoured vehicle, almost piercing through the left door, but the two officers were unharmed. 

The blast left the pickup truck in ruins, shattered the windows of the police flat, and damaged items inside.

Police Colonel Jeffrey ordered officials to inspect all three scenes, collecting evidence including bomb parts and security camera footage to determine if the incidents were related to any particular group. 

They discovered that a group of at least six suspects used motorcycles to plant the first and second bombs, then used the pickup truck for the third explosion, with the motorcycle carrying the driver away.

Officers said the suspects' behaviour mirrored previous incidents, where the first bomb was used to lure officials closer before the second and third bombs were deployed in an attempt to target them. 

Investigators believe the southern insurgents were retaliating for the deaths of three of their members on August 1 and August 8.

Authorities had received a warning from an undercover agent about a possible explosion, prompting heightened surveillance and vehicle inspections. 

Consequently, the suspects were unable to execute their plan in the city and instead planted the bombs in the outer areas. 

Investigations are ongoing to identify the responsible group and determine if they are connected to previous incidents, with results expected within two days.