YALA: Gunmen stormed into a house and shot five people dead in Bannang Sata district overnight, police said on Monday morning.
The attack was reported about 1am at the home of Ibroheng Museh, 32, in tambon Tanohputeh. The attackers used a shotgun and an M16 rifle.
Ibroheng was shot dead, along with his cousin Ahmah Museh, 33, and neighbours Aranchai Doheh, 26, Usman Yusoh, 39, and Furagon Laso, 25.
Investigators found more than a dozen fired bullet casings.
Four attackers, wearing masks, arrived at the house in two motorcycles. Two of them, armed with a shotgun and an M-16 rifle, walked in on the five men and shot them dead.
The victims reportedly gathered at the house regularly at night after fasting during Ramadan.
Col Thanawee Suwannarat, deputy spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command's southern office, said initial investigation pointed to a personal conflict but officials had not ruled out insurgents being behind it.
The investigation was continuing.
Later Col Thanawee Suwannarat, deputy spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command's southern office, said initial investigation pointed to a personal conflict but officials had not ruled out an insurgent motive.