Several violent attacks in the deep South yesterday wounded at least nine officials and farmers.
In Yala's Raman district, a bomb hit four security officials who were investigating a nearby explosion in the morning.
The second bomb exploded right after the officials parked their vehicle about 100 metres from the scene of the first bomb attack.
Three of the victims were from a police bomb-disposal squad. They were Senior Sgt-Major Chawakarn Sarnsuwan, Corporal Sarayut Suphaka, and Corporal Pongwiwat Weruwan. The other victim was Army Private Sornsak Laksanawong.
All were being treated at local hospitals.
Police believe the attacks were staged to fan unrest in the deep South.
Later in the afternoon, a bomb wounded two rubber-tappers.
Thavorn Pudnil said he and his son were working on their plantation when his son stepped on the device.
"Then it exploded," he said.
A source said Thavorn's plantation was just across from where bombs had exploded earlier in the day.
In Narathiwat, unknown attackers shot up a pickup truck carrying a kamnan, Usoh Sama. All six occupants survived but three were wounded. They were Saree Beuraheng, a deputy village head, Abdulloh Yeemayee and Muhamad Jeh-ae.
"I saw a black pickup chasing us. When it caught up, a man in the back opened fire and the pickup sped away," Usoh said.
The Internal Security Operations Command said intelligence sources had constantly given warnings about insurgents' plots to stage motorcycle-bomb attacks in the three southernmost provinces.
Officials and locals in the areas were advised to be on high alert.