A robber exploded a home-made bomb in a gold shop in Yala municipality on Tuesday afternoon, but fled empty handed after the explosion, which destroyed a glass showcase and wounded a shop attendant, police said.
Pol Col Rusdi Kado, a duty officer of Muang Yala police station, said the man walked in to the Sang Teng 2 gold shop at the junction of Rot Fai and Siroros roads in front of a fresh market about 3.30pm.
Somsak Pongpanpaisal, 53, the gold shop owner, said he and eight employees were in the shop at the time.
The man placed a PVC pipe on top of a glass showcase and ran out of the shop.
The pipe contained a small bomb which exploded, breaking the showcase.
The robber rushed back into the shop to but was unable to reach any of the gold jewellery which was stil behind steel bars. Frustrated, he ran out of the shop and fled on a waiting motorcycle.
The blast injured a woman, Pimpa Phomkhaochuang, 54, a shop attendant. Her face was cut by flying glass. She was admitted to Yala Hospital.
Police were investigating.