BANGKOK (Reuters) - A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand’s southern Yala province on Monday, killing three people and wounding 22, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said, the first such attack in the region in months.

The mostly Muslim provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala in Thailand’s far south are home to a long-running insurgency by ethnic Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy in which more than 6,000 people have been killed since 2004.

“The criminals put a bomb in a motorcycle and placed it next to a market cart. The force of the explosion caused three people to lose their lives,” said ISOC spokesman Pramote Prom-in. The ISOC is a government security force that operates in the region.

No group claimed immediate responsibility for the attack on Monday, which took place at a morning market.

Police said the motorcycle was placed near a stall selling pork, which is strictly forbidden for Muslims under Islamic Law.

It was not immediately clear whether the bomb was placed at the pork stall in a deliberate attempt to target Thai Buddhists.

The stall’s female owner and a male customer were among the three people killed, police said. The bomb blew off chunks of the market’s corrugated tin roof and wrecked nearby stalls.

The southern provinces have seen hundreds of attacks since 2004, many of them deadly, but there had been fewer violent incidents of late.

Military personnel and police officers inspect the site of a bomb attack at a market in the southern province of Yala, Thailand, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Surapan Boonthanom

Analysts who monitor the conflict say violence from the insurgency fell to an historic low in 2017 despite the fact that talks aimed at bringing peace gained little traction.

Thailand’s military government has tried to revive talks with rebel groups initiated by the previous civilian government, but they have gone almost nowhere.

Resistance to Buddhist rule from Bangkok has existed for decades in the predominantly Muslim southern provinces, waning briefly in the 1990s before resurfacing violently in 2004.</s>A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand’s southern Yala province on Monday, killing three people and wounding 22. AP A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand’s southern Yala province on Monday, killing...

Police said the motorcycle was placed near a stall selling pork. The wounded were taken to the main hospital in Yala. Reuters Police said the motorcycle was placed near a stall selling pork. The wounded were taken to the...

The attacker had reportedly parked the bike with explosives nearby and bought goods at the market to blend in. The bomb exploded when he left the market area. Reuters The attacker had reportedly parked the bike with explosives nearby and bought goods at the market...

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. A Thai forensics unit scoured the aftermath of the motorcycle bombing. Getty images No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. A Thai forensics unit scoured the...</s>Yala: A motorcycle bomb killed three civilians and wounded 22 others on Monday at a market in Thailand's insurgency-hit south, officials said, the first such attack on a 'soft target' in the Muslim-majority region for months.

A rebellion against Thai rule in the culturally distinct Thai "Deep South" bordering Malaysia has left nearly 7,000 dead the majority civilians since 2004.

The death toll in 2017 from the insurgency was the lowest in 13 years of conflict as peace talks edged forwards and the Thai junta boosted its security lockdown on the region.

But Monday's bomb at a packed market in Yala town popular with Buddhists and Muslims suggests a return to attacks on civilian targets. Chunks of torn corrugated roofing and parts of destroyed motorbikes and stalls littered a narrow alleyway in the market, as police picked through a scene of devastation shortly after the bomb.

"The suspects parked the motorcycle in front of a stall selling pork in downtown Yala. it detonated 10 minutes later killing three civilians and wounding 19 others," the policeman told AFP requesting anonymity.

"It's the first big attack in downtown Yala in two years and is quite serious because people died." It was not immediately clear if the bomb deliberately targeted the pork stall and potentially its Buddhist customers.

The wounded were taken to the main hospital in Yala, which is the main town of the province with the same name. Pramote Prom-in, an army spokesman for the region, confirmed the death toll, adding 22 were wounded "mainly with minor injuries".

Thailand, which colonised the ethnically Malay south roughly a century ago, has for decades been confronted by ethnic fighters seeking more autonomy, but the conflict flared up into its bloodiest phase in 2004.

Rights groups have accused both the insurgents and security forces of widespread human rights abuses. The shadowy militant cells, who operate from remote communities and the forested Malaysia border zone have in recent months stepped back from targeting civilians amid heavy criticism.

Monday's attack could mark a dangerous new turn in the tactics. "If it was the work of the insurgents, then it's a sign of things to come a stern message to the authorities that they will resort to hitting soft targets," Don Pathan, a Thailand-based independent analyst, told AFP.

Pathan speculated the market blast could be "retaliation" for a specific incident in a conflict defined by tit-for-tat operations by insurgents and security forces. "But over recent years the insurgents haven't targeted civilians out right, this is a big concern."</s>At least 3 people were killed and another 18 wounded when a bomb exploded in a market in the conflict-torn majority-Muslim far south of Thailand on Monday, an official said.

The bomb was planted on a motorcycle parked in Pimolchai market in Yala, the capital of the province of the same name.</s>BANGKOK - A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand's southern Yala province on Monday, killing three people and wounding 18, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said.

The mostly Muslim provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala in Thailand's far south are home to a long-running insurgency by ethnic Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy in which more than 6,000 people have been killed since 2004."The criminals put a bomb in a motorcycle and placed it next to a market cart. The force of the explosion caused three people to lose their lives," ISOC spokesman Pramote Prom-in said. The ISOC is a government security force that operates in the region. No group claimed immediate responsibility for the attack.</s>Bangkok: A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand’s southern Yala province on Monday, killing three people and wounding 18, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said.

The mostly Muslim provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala in Thailand’s far south are home to a long-running insurgency by ethnic Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy in which more than 6,000 people have been killed since 2004.

“The criminals put a bomb in a motorcycle and placed it next to a market cart. The force of the explosion caused three people to lose their lives,” said ISOC spokesman Pramote Prom-in. The ISOC is a government security force that operates in the region.

No group claimed immediate responsibility for the attack on Monday, which took place at a roadside morning market.

The region has seen hundreds of attacks since 2004, many of them deadly, but there had been fewer violent incidents of late.

Analysts who monitor the conflict say violence from the insurgency fell to an historic low in 2017 despite the fact that talks aimed at bringing peace gained little traction.

Thailand’s military government has tried to revive talks with rebel groups initiated by the previous civilian government, but they have gone almost nowhere.

Resistance to Buddhist rule from Bangkok has existed for decades in the predominantly Muslim southern provinces, waning briefly in the 1990s before resurfacing violently in 2004.</s>YALA — Police say three people have been killed and 18 injured by a bomb that exploded in a market in southern Thailand.

Police Lt. Eakapong Rattanachai said an attacker parked a motorcycle rigged with explosives near the market and bought goods there to blend in with the crowd Monday morning in Yala province.

Eakapong said the motorcycle bomb exploded when the attacker left the market area, killing three and injuring 18.

Yala is one of Thailand’s three southernmost provinces where Muslim militants have waged a yearslong insurgency.

The three provinces are the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country.

More than 6,500 people have been killed in the violence since 2004.</s>Villagers watch the site of a bombing at a market in Yala province, southern Thailand. | AP

YALA (THAILAND): A motorcycle bomb killed three civilians and wounded two dozen others on Monday at a bustling morning market in Thailand's insurgency-hit south, the first such attack on a "soft target" in the Muslim-majority region for months.

A rebellion against Thai rule in the country's culturally distinct "Deep South" bordering Malaysia has left nearly 7,000 dead -- the majority civilians -- since 2004.

The death toll in 2017 from the insurgency was 235, the lowest in 13 years of conflict as peace talks edged forwards and the Thai junta boosted its security lockdown on the region.

But Monday's bomb in Yala town at a packed market popular with Buddhists and Muslims may indicate that militants are once more aiming attacks at civilian targets.

At least two bodies lay slumped over debris in the narrow alleyway, surrounded by chunks of torn corrugated roofing, destroyed motorbikes and market stalls.

"The suspects parked the motorcycle in front of a stall selling pork in downtown Yala... it detonated 10 minutes later," the policeman told AFP, requesting anonymity.

"Three civilians were killed. It's the first big attack in downtown Yala in two years."

Two of the dead were Buddhists -- the other was Muslim -- while 24 people were wounded, according to an official at Yala hospital.

It was not immediately clear if the bomb deliberately targeted the pork stall, and potentially its Buddhist customers.

An army spokesman for the region confirmed the toll and blamed "insurgents", saying the motorbike laden with explosives fits their modus operandi.

"The bombing shows the insurgents never stop trying to indiscriminately destroy lives and property," Pramote Prom-in said, adding the attack aimed to undermine faith in "the state security system".

But later the regional army chief instead blamed "powerful local families" intent on disrupting the peace for financial gain -- without naming his chief suspects.

'Sign of things to come?' 

 Thailand, which colonised the ethnically Malay south roughly a century ago, has for decades been confronted by fighters seeking more autonomy, but the conflict flared up into its bloodiest phase in 2004.

Rights groups have accused both the insurgents and security forces of widespread human rights abuses, with civilians trapped between the two sides.

The shadowy network of militants almost never claim attacks and rarely talk to the media.

Their cells, which operate from remote communities and the forested Malaysia border zone, had in recent months stepped back from targeting civilians including teachers and other perceived collaborators with the Thai state.

Talks between the Thai state and an umbrella group claiming to represent the rebels have rumbled on inconclusively for years.

But the recent slackening of violence had been read as a sign of confidence building between the sides -- although the main rebel group the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) has disowned the discussions.

Monday's attack could mark a dangerous new shift in tactics.

"If it was the work of the insurgents, then it's a sign of things to come -- a stern message to the authorities that they will resort to hitting soft targets."

Pathan speculated the market blast could also be "retaliation" for a specific incident in a conflict defined by tit-for-tat operations by insurgents and security forces.

Last May a large car bomb struck a supermarket in neighbouring Pattani province wounding scores of people.</s>Military personnel inspect the site of a bomb attack at a market in the southern province of Yala, Thailand, January 22, 2018. — Reuters picYALA, Jan 22 — A motorcycle bomb killed three civilians and wounded 19 others this morning at a market in Thailand’s insurgency-hit south, a policeman said, the first such attack in the Muslim-majority region for months.

A rebellion against Thai rule in the culturally distinct Thai “Deep South” bordering Malaysia has left nearly 7,000 dead — the majority civilians — since 2004.

The death toll in 2017 from the insurgency was the lowest in 13 years of conflict as peace talks edged forwards and the Thai junta boosted its security lockdown on the region.

This morning’s bomb at a morning market in Yala town popular with Buddhists and Muslims was the first deadly attack by suspected insurgents on a civilian target in months, suggesting a potential change in tactics.

“The suspects parked the motorcycle in front of a stall selling pork in downtown Yala... it detonated 10 minutes later killing three civilians and wounding 19 others,” the policeman said, requesting anonymity.

“It’s the first big attack in downtown Yala in two years and is quite serious because people died.”

Thailand, which colonised the ethnically Malay south roughly a century ago, has for decades been confronted by ethnic fighters seeking more autonomy, but the conflict flared up into its bloodiest phase in 2004.

Rights groups have accused both the insurgents and security forces of widespread human rights abuses. — AFP</s>A bomb blast killed three people and wounded at least 22 in a market in Thailand’s southern Yala province on Monday, Reuters reported quoting a spokesperson for the internal security operations command (ISOC). The bomb was placed on a motorcycle near a food stall.

It is not immediately clear if the attack was targeting Thai buddhists, who account for the majority of the population. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

“The criminals put a bomb in a motorcycle and placed it next to a market cart,” said ISOC spokesperson Pramote Prom-in. The ISOC is a government security force that operates in the region.

The country’s southern provinces have seen attacks from ethnic Malay Muslim insurgents who have been fighting for autonomy from the state. More than 6,000 people have lost their lives in attacks.
A motorcycle bomb kills at least three people and wounds 22 others at a market in Thailand's southern Yala Province.