By D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama,
Bangkok : Four people, three of them policemen, were killed in two attacks in the southern Thailand province of Pattani Wednesday.
A police spokesman said the policemen were killed after insurgents detonated a bomb by the roadside in Mukim Cerong, Yarang, at about 12.20 pm.
He said the incident happened when six policemen went to investigate a telephone booth which was set on fire last night.
Upon reaching the area, a bomb exploded, hitting the six policemen and two civilians who were passing by the area.
Three of the policemen died in hospital.
In Taluban, Saiburi district, a 49-year-old government staff was shot and then burnt to death while a co-worker was injured in an attack at 9.10 am.
Security forces have been put on high alert in the past few days as fears of more violence on the anniversary of the Krue Se tragedy where 32 suspected separatists were shot dead inside a 300-year-old mosque by soldiers in April 2004.
Since violence escalated in January 2004, more than 3,000 people have died as separatists battle to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.