Bangkok, Nov 3 (IANS) At least three people were killed in a string of attacks in three southern Thai provinces after the arrival of a government negotiation delegation, the military said on Thursday.
A dozen attacks, including bombings, shootings and arson on Wednesday night, struck the provinces of Songkhla, Narathiwat and Pattani, deputy spokesperson of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Yutthana Petchmuang told Efe news.
Two victims were security guards at a car showroom in Songkhla, who were shot by members of an Islamic insurgency group that previously detonated a bomb on the premises.
The third victim was a soldier who was killed when four gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a military facility in Pattani.
The deputy spokesperson added that three other people were slightly injured in an attack in Songkhla's Thepa district, while local media reported that two more were wounded in a bomb blast at an ATM in Pattani.
One of the attacks was reported in Pattani's Nong Chik district, a military base where members of the cabinet, led by former army chief and junta member Udomdej Sitabutr, were staying.
This delegation met hours before with local religious leaders to discuss the peace dialogue in the region.
In August, four people were killed and about thirty were wounded in a wave of bombings at major tourist destinations in the south of the country.
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the largest armed rebel group, later claimed responsibility for the August attacks.
