Thailand: Bomb blast in Southern Yala province Jan. 25

Event

In the morning (local time) of Friday, January 25, six people, including police officers and civilians, were injured following a bomb blast in the Krong Pinang district of the southern Yala province. The explosion occured when policemen were conducting a security patrol in the area. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although separatist militants are highly suspected.

Context

An ethnic and religious separatist insurgency is ongoing in the four southernmost provinces of Thailand - Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala - which make up the historical Malay Patani region and are located in the extreme south of the country along the Thai-Malaysian border. Since 2001, over 7000 people have been killed (e.g. local residents, civil servants, security personnel, militants) and many more wounded in near-daily clashes and assassinations.

Advice

As a reminder, some Western governments advise against nonessential travel to Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the south of Songkhla. Individuals in these areas should remain cautious and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.