YALA : Attackers opened fire on a group of Muslims in front of a mosque in Yala's Bannang Sata district, killing one resident and injuring three others.
The attack occurred on Monday night as the Muslims were leaving the mosque in Bannang Kuwae village.
Sakariya Hengdada, 58, a member of Bannang Kuwae Tambon Administration Organisation, was pronounced dead at the scene while the three injured were identified as Haman Mae,12, Mahamu Hatama, 44, and Seh Padung, 70. The injured are being treated at Yala Hospital.
Police blamed Islamic insurgents.
Meanwhile, Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Sakol Chuentrakul yesterday said he was worried about recent attacks in the deep South.
Lt Gen Sakol said he instructed all military units under his command to step up security.
Tourism is reeling after three bombs went off in downtown Sadao district of Songkhla province on Sunday, injuring 27 people.
The first blast damaged part of the Oliver Hotel and more than 20 shops and entertainment venues. Later the same day a motorcycle bomb went off in the parking lot at the Padang Besar police station and another bomb exploded in the parking lot of Sadao station. Lt Gen Sakol said authorities are investigating the blasts.
Songkhla governor Kritsada Boonraj said the blasts had led to a 50% plunge in hotel room reservations in Sadao district. Foreign tourists had lost confidence in travelling to Sadao.
He had asked the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to explain the situation.