Thailand: Grenades fired at security post in Yala province May 15

Event

In the early hours (local time) of Tuesday, May 15, two grenades were hurled at a security post in the Yaha district of Yala province, injuring two security personnel. The post serves as a security checkpoint in the Ban Lima Pulo area of the Ba-ngoy Sinae tambon. Additionally, around the same time, a shooting attack was reported at a security post in the Ban Lue Mu area of of the Krong Pinang tambon (Krong Pinang district; Yala province). No casualties were reported. 

Context

Local authorities believe the attack was launched to stir up unrest in the sensitive southern border province ahead of the Islamic month of Ramadan, expected to begin on May 16 or 17 (depending on the moon sighting). The Muslim minority in Thailand makes up approximately 5 percent of the population and is concentrated in the south of the country; Thailand is predominantly Buddhist. 

Advice

As a reminder, authorities advise against all non-essential travel to provinces on the Thai-Malaysian border, as well as Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Southern Songkhla province where a violent separatist insurgency is ongoing.