Bomb attacks destroy customs booth in Narathiwat

The booth had only just been installed and contained computers for checking passing cars.

Police rushed to the scene and found that a bomb went off at a customs booth, about 300 metres from the border. The blast damaged four aluminium computer boxes in a booth. The computers are to record the number of vehicles crossing the border each day.

No one was injured. Another bomb exploded three metres from the first blast site as the authorities were beginning to inspect the scene. There were no reports of casualties.

The bombings occurred a few hours before Prawit and Anupong Paochinda were to visit the province.

According to Thai News Agency, Prawit said the visit was to boost troop morale and to review the work of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC).

"The number of violent incident has receded recently as s result of increased public understanding and improved public support for local security personnel," the minister said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will make a one-day visit to Yala on Saturday. It will be his first visit since taking office in December.