BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Three people were killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in Thailand's troubled south when more than 30 bombs exploded Thursday in police stations and government offices across three Muslim-dominated provinces, according to Thailand's military.

A local government official and a defense volunteer were killed in a restaurant bombing, which also caused injuries, military spokesman Capt. Kanepol Somcharoen said. A volunteer at the Pattani governor's office was also killed, Somcharoen said.

The motive for the bombings wasn't immediately known, but Somcharoen blamed Muslims seeking an independent state.

Somcharoen said it was "a coordinated operation" carried out by Muslim militants who were more interested in "a show of force" and scaring civilians than in causing a large number of casualties.

The homemade bombs exploded between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, a military source told CNN.

Out of 49 homemade bombs planted, 33 successfully detonated, according to a military spokesman. Some were planted in toilets.

The blasts came three days after an elaborate, five-day celebration honoring Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, as he celebrated his 60th anniversary on the throne.

Thailand is about 90 percent Buddhist, except for those Muslim provinces, which are located more than 600 miles south of Bangkok..


CNN Bangkok Producer Narunart Pradanya contributed to this report

Sad to read this, the troubles in the south continue and there doesn't seem to be any immediate solution to the problems there

New wave of explosions rock deep South

PATTANI, June 16 (TNA) - Another wave of explosions rocked Thailand's troubled deep South Friday morning, following Thursday bombing that killed 3 and injured more than 20 persons.

The bombs were mostly located at railway station restrooms across the three border provinces, and while few persons were injured, many have been inconvenienced -- and many more are likely to think twice before answering 'the call of nature' as the local populace becomes more fearful.

In Yala, the first bomb went off at 7am at the provincial railway station. The bomb which was planted in a station toilet caused some damage to the building but no injuries were reported.

About 8.30am a car bomb exploded at Manangdama intersection in Yala's Kabang district. Assistant
district officer Mustorfah Masaa, his wife Paweena were seriously injured and taken to Yala hospital. Their car was completely destroyed.

In Pattani, a bomb inside a 'Men's Room' toilet at Khok Pho district railway station exploded, without causing injuries.

Five bomb incidents were reported almost simultaneously at different locations in three districts of Narathiwat. The first explosion was in a toilet at Tanyong Mat railway station in Rangae district at 6.50am. A second bomb went off in a toilet at Maruebo-ok railway station in the same district, with several persons reportedly injured.

About the same time a bomb exploded in a garbage bin at Sungai Kolok railway station, near the Malaysian border. The explosion caused no injuries.

A fourth bomb was at a ticketing booth at Ban Lalo railway station in Rue So district, but was defused before it exploded.

The latest explosion took place along a road some 500 metres from the Rue So district office, also with no reported injuries.

A joint security force of over 100 military, police, and civilian personnel searched three targeted houses in Rangae district's Bo-ngor subdistrict and found an Indonesian man and a bag of urea nitrate--a chemical substance thought to be used in making explosives--and metal spikes. The foreigner was brought to Rangae district for initial questioning before being remanded to the Royal Thai Army southern region command in Yala.

TNA

Arrested Thursday bombings suspect identified as drug trafficker

NARATHIWAT, June 17 (TNA) - One of five men arrested on Friday in connection with Thursday's bombings in Thailand's southernmost border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani has been identified as a key drug trafficker wanted by state authorities for his activities in the drug trade, according to a senior police officer.

Pol. Maj-Gen. Vorapong Chiewpreecha, Deputy Commissioner of the country's Central Police Investigation in Bangkok said on Saturday while visiting Ra-ngae district here that police investigators had connected one of the five men arrested Friday for possible involvement in Thursday' s operation to a wanted drug trafficker, while the other four are suspected of having joined him in drug trafficking.

More than 40 bombs shook the three southern border provinces Thursday and Friday, killing three persons and wounding more than 20.

The origin of two pistols and ammunition plus Bt220,000 in cash seized Friday us being probed, Pol. Maj. Gen. Vorapong said.

The five suspects will be sent to the Royal Thai Police forward office in Yala for further interrogation.

TNA