Chaos and bloodshed erupted in Thailand’s southern provinces over the weekend as two powerful bomb blasts shattered the fragile peace, leaving one dead and several injured.
The first explosion struck Bannang Sata district in Yala on Saturday night, turning a quiet evening into a scene of devastation. At 8:20 p.m., a bomb detonated outside a Mini BigC store in Moo 2 village, killing civilian Tuan Ibrawheng Nimi and injuring seven police officers on patrol. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the community as bomb squads and forensic teams rushed to secure the area.
But the terror wasn’t over. Just hours later, another bomb ripped through Narathiwat province early Sunday morning—this time, in a chillingly timed attack near Narathiwat airport, moments before former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was due to land.
A pickup truck belonging to an airport firefighter was targeted in the explosion at 8:50 a.m., injuring four security guards and sparking panic among officials. Authorities scrambled to clear all suspicious vehicles before Thaksin’s arrival, ensuring his safety as tensions soared.
Thaksin, making his first visit to the deep South in nearly two decades, arrived with Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Despite the carnage, he was met with a warm reception as he visited Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani—regions still struggling with long-standing unrest.
These coordinated attacks send a terrifying message: violence in Thailand’s southern border provinces is far from over. As authorities investigate, fear lingers, and the region braces for what may come next.
