Five policemen injured in Pattani bomb attack

The injured include Police Senior Sgt Major Sompong Sornlai, 39, Pol Pvt Suthorn Promruengchote, 37, Pol Pvt Densuthep Silpaphan, 29, Pol Pvt Surasak Sairoj, 30 and Pol Pvt Lertvichai Longchai, 26.

All were admitted to nearby hospital while Sunthorn appeared to be in the severest condition with both legs broken from the explosion.

The detonator linked to the 15-kilogramme bomb via a 200-meter electrical wire was set off the bomb by suspected insurgents hiding in the wooded area, police said.

The vehicle they were travelling in was toss off the road by the explosion.

The officers were part of security details for local schools in Pattani.

More than combined forces of about 100 security officials were dispatched to the area with two police dogs to hunt down the suspects.

Officials providing security to teachers and Buddhist monks have come under constant attack by suspected insurgents operating on the ground in the Malay-speaking region of southernmost border provinces.