Banners attacking the government and fake bombs were found scattered throughout four Far South provinces Thursday.
They were left in Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla. Banners were written in Thai and Malay, railing against colonialism and inhumanity. Security officials were investigating the origin of the posters.
In Pattani, standards were raised at eight locations in Yarang, Nong Chik and Khok Pho districts. Officials also were warned to take precautions as suspicious objects that appeared to be bombs were left at many sites.
A bomb expert is checking a suspicious box in Nong Chik district, Pattani, on Thursday. (Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat)
More banners and suspect items were discovered on Road 42 near Nong Chik Hospital in Tuyong sub-district of Nong Chik district. One object turned out to be a paper box containing an empty oil container and a wire-wrapped brick.
In Narathiwat, signs and fake bombs were found in Sungai Kolok, Rangae, Si Sakhon, Bacho and Sungai Padi districts. Some were placed at the Toh Deng train station in Sungai Padi and bomb removal work delayed a morning train for hours.
Security authorities were running checkpoints in the southernmost provinces as local Muslims returned from work in other provinces and Malaysia for parties to mark the end of Ramadan.