Suspected militants have launched a wave of long-awaited reprisal attacks for the failed raid on a marine base in Narathiwat province earlier this month, with near-simultaneous attacks recorded in six Pattani districts.
Twenty-nine spots were targeted in the attacks, which took place between 7.30pm and midnight Saturday.
The attacks included several bomb blasts and arson attacks.
Seven defence volunteers were injured in one of the bomb blasts.
Officers said the situation was under control by 2am.
A security source said a group of militants led by Masore Dueramaethe was believed to have carried out the attacks.
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The group is also blamed for multiple bombings and arson attacks in Pattani's provincial centre on Feb 16, which caused major property damage.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who is in charge of security operations in the deep South, said he had been expecting reprisal attacks after the deaths of 16 militants in a failed attack on a marines camp in Narathiwat on Feb 13.
He said he had instructed security forces to beef up their presence in the region to deter revenge attacks, particularly on Makha Bucha Day Monday.
Col Pramote Prommin, spokesman for the 4th Region Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said the attacks were a concerted attempt by militants to retaliate over the bungled Feb 13 raid.
Col Pramote said insurgents would want to strike back after the failed raid, particularly because key militant leader Maroso Chantharawadee was among the 16 who were killed.
Several insurgent leaders had also been arrested during the past several months, he said.
Col Pramote said he believes insurgents launched the attacks to show they are still active in the area and to respond to the government's imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA)in parts of the far South.
The government says the ISA makes it easier for insurgents to surrender to authorities without fear of punishment.
Section 21 of the ISA allows insurgents who wish to lay down arms to enter an education programme in exchange for them not being prosecuted.
Police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said most of the attacks were minor disruptions.
Of the 29 attacks, eight occurred in Yarang district, seven each in Muang and Yaring districts, four in Nong Chik, two in Sai Buri, and one in Khok Pho.
In Muang district, a 3kg homemade bomb exploded near a branch of the Islamic Bank shortly after locals alerted police to two men spotted dropping a black plastic bag into a rubbish bin near the bank about 7.30pm.
When police arrived, the bomb was detonated. No one was hurt.
Police later obtained security camera footage showing the suspects in action.
Ten minutes later, car tyres were set on fire at four spots in Muang district - on Highway 42 near the Pattani bus terminal; on Poonsawat Road; at Ban Baero Saning on Highway 410; and at a bridge near Ban Pare in tambon Barahome.
At 8.30pm, a Dtac telecommunications tower in front of Ban Pare School in tambon Barahome was set alight, followed by a bomb blast in front of Had Thip Co in tambon Talubo about 9pm which injured seven defence volunteers.
In Yaring district, a school building and an abandoned house were torched; car tyres were set on fire at three spots; and a power transformer in front of Ban Takae School in tambon Takae was shot, causing a blackout.
Police found four bullet casings near the burnt transformer which they believe were fired from AK-102 assault rifles.
A fire truck belonging to Tanyong Lado tambon administration organisation (TAO) was also set on fire. Forensic officers found bloodstains on the broken glass window of the fire truck and petrol containers believed to have been used to set fire to the TAO office.
Forensics officers will conduct DNA tests on the evidence.
In Yarang district, militants set fire to rubbish cans in several villages while car tyres were set alight in front of Yarang hospital and on four local roads. In Nong Chik district, car tyres were set on fire at four spots - on Highways 42 and 43 and near a PTT petrol station.
In Sai Buri district, car tyres were set alight at four spots, including in front of a car tyre shop in tambon Trobon.
In Khok Pho district, a car tyre was set on fire in front of a rubber processing plant.
Meanwhile, police yesterday released security video footage of the suspects involved in twin bomb blasts in Narathiwat's Rangae district on Saturday.
The blasts injured three people, including a three-year-old child.
One of the suspects was shown parking a motorcycle wired with explosives in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store.
Another suspect on a motorcycle then stopped nearby and dropped a bag into a rubbish can near the store. The two suspects then fled.
Soon afterwards, the bomb in the rubbish can exploded, followed by the motorcycle bomb.
Police believe the suspects belong to a drug gang hired by militants to carry out the attack.
Police are investigating.
EARLIER REPORT
By Online Reporters
A wave of 29 terrorist attacks swept Pattani on Saturday night which security authorities said was a concerted attempt by terrorists to disrupt the province. The attacks were widespread, but many were minor incidents.
The headquarters of Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command said militants set fire to car tyres at four spots in Muang district - the bus terminal on Highway 42 near Ban Pupo in tambon Taluban, at Ban Baero Saning on Highway 410 in tambon Baraho, on Highway 42 in tambon Talubo and at a bridge near Ban Pare in tambon Barahome.
A mobile signal post in front of Ban Pare School in tambon Barahome was set ablaze.
Photo by Pares Lohasan
At 8.55pm in Muang district, a bomb planted at the U-turn in front of Had Thip Co in tambon Talubo was detonated. The explosion hurt Ekasit Songmuang, an assistant district chief, and six defence volunteers.
In Nong Chik district, car tyres were set on fire at four spots - at Ban Don Rak in tambon Don Rak, on Highway 42 near a PTT petrol station at Ban Don Yang in tambon Bo Thong, on Highway 42 in tambon Tuyong, and on Highway 42 in tambon Tha Kacha.
In Sai Buri district, car tyres were set ablaze at six spots - at Ban Balo in tambon Lahan, at the bridge of Ban Lakho in tambon Tabing, at Joh Kuyae junction in tambon Tabing, at Ban Kalapho in tambon Trobon, at Ban Lubo Sulong in tambon Trobon, and in front of the highway office at Ban Kalapho Ok in tambon Trobon.
In Yaring district, car tyres were set on fire at Ban Bangpu in tambon Bangpu and in front of Songsermsart School in tambon Tanyong Lado. A power transformer in front of Ban Takae School in tambon Takae was shot at and slightly damaged.
Also in Yaring district, the Tanyong Lado tambon administration organisation (TAO) office and a fire truck parked inside the TAO compound were set on fire, causing damage to about 40% of the property. An abandoned house near Ban Thadan School in tambon Talo Kapore and the school were torched, causing damage to about 10% of the school building.
In Yarang district, the militants set fire to a trash can and car tyres at six spots - at Ban Phongsata in tambon Yarang, Ban Nae Batae in tambon Yarang, in front of Yarang hospital in tambon Pitumudi, at Ban Po Chan in tambon Pitumudi, at Ban Ton Prai in tambon Mowawi, and at Ban Makham in tambon Mowawi.