Three defence volunteers were killed and 11 other people wounded in a twin-bomb explosion in the heart of Pattani township before noon on Sunday, police said.
Pol Col Tuandir Juthanant, the Muang Pattani police chief, said the bombs went off at about 11.51am at the clock tower intersection on Piphit Road in Muang district in front of Big Ben restaurant.
The impact of the explosion damaged the restaurant and about 10 other shophouses. One car and more than 10 motorcycles were also damaged.
Three defence volunteers - Viroj Chanthasiri, Sukri Duere and Itthipol Arsae - were killed in the explosion.
Eleven people were wounded. Nine of them were identified: Sofiya Poji, Kathaphan Sinsanong, Daranee Sathienmongkol, Sukij Yuso, Ibrohem Tosatu, Kingkan Mahawan, Wasant Chanboontham, Somsak Kaewmanee and Amnaj Sae Wong.
Pol Col Tuandir said the explosion came from two improvised bombs, each weighing about 10kg, placed on a pile of cloth in front of Big Ben restaurant where many motorcycles were parked.
Later at about 1pm, another bomb was found near Diana Supermarket which was earlier hit by a bomb. The bomb was defused by a bomb disposal unit.
Police and military forces had been deployed all over the Pattani municipality, suspecting the militants might have planted more bombs at other spots.