Thailand: Motorcycle bomb kills three people in Yala province Jan. 22

Event

A motorcycle bomb attack killed at least three people and wounded 23 others in Mueang Yala district (Yala province) on Monday, January 22. A suspected separatist insurgent reportedly parked the motorcycle in Pimolchai market on Kwang Chia Burana Road (Yala city) and fled the scene before the bomb exploded around 06:00 (local time). Thai security forces are reportedly searching the area for members of the insurgent group suspected to have been behind the attack. A heightened security presence and associated transportation disruptions are expected, and additional separatist insurgent attacks are possible, in Yala province in the coming days and weeks. Specifically, Thai agencies have reportedly been warned of possible major insurgent attacks in the affected southern provinces from Saturday, January 20, to Friday, January 26.

Context

A separatist insurgency in Thailand's three Muslim-majority southern provinces - Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat - has claimed more than 6800 lives since it first began 14 years ago, with both militants and Thailand's military accused of human rights abuses. Low-intensity bombings and assassinations often occur in the region, which is heavily patrolled by soldiers and police.

Most recently, on January 21, suspected separatist insurgents detonated a bomb in Hat Yai (Songkhla province), prompting the implementation of heightened security measures in the city. In mid-December 2017, at least 20 separatist insurgents set a bus ablaze and caused traffic disruptions in Yala province. No casualties were reported.

Advice

Individuals in the affected area are advised to monitor the situation and remain vigilant. As a reminder, most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as the province of Songkhla and areas along the Cambodia and Myanmar borders due to the presence of armed militias.​