Three young brothers were killed and their parents wounded in an ambush in Bacho district of Narathiwat province on Monday night, police said.
The dead victims were identified as Baharee Maman, 9, and his two brothers Areeya, 5, and Muyaheh, 3.
Their father Jehmu Maman, 40, and their mother Padeelaeh Mayu, 33, were wounded and admitted to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin hospital.
Pol Lt Adam Rorhemman, duty officer at tambon Palukasamoh police station in Bacho, said the shooting occurred about 9pm in front of house No 143/4 of Moo 7 in tambon Palukasamoh.
Mr Jehmu told police that his family had just arrived at their home on a motorcycle from offering prayers at the village mosque and they were about to enter the house when gunmen hiding inside nearby forest opened fire on them with automatic rifles. The attackers then fled.
His three young sons were shot in their torsos and taken to Bacho hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
Police blamed separatist militants.