Wave of Bombings Targets Authorities in Southern Thailand
Thailand – March 18, 2025 – A surge in bombings and violent attacks against authorities has rocked Thailand’s southern provinces, particularly in the Patani region, as insurgents escalate their campaign amid the ongoing separatist conflict. On March 17, a female Muslim official was killed in Pattani when a bomb, allegedly planted by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatists, detonated near her vehicle.
This follows a roadside bomb attack on March 14 in Mae Lan district that injured nine police officers protecting teachers, and another blast on March 15 in Pattani that wounded eight rangers and a civilian.The violence, concentrated in the Muslim-majority provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, comes as efforts to secure a Ramadan ceasefire have collapsed, with six fatalities reported in recent days.
Wave of Bombings
Security forces attribute the attacks to Malay-Muslim insurgent groups seeking independence from Thai rule, a conflict rooted in historical grievances dating back to the region’s annexation in 1909. Analysts warn that the uptick, including sabotage of security cameras in Pattani, signals a potential bombing spree as Ramadan progresses.
Thai authorities have vowed to intensify counterinsurgency operations, though no international condemnation has yet emerged despite the rising civilian toll.DeepSearchdetails on BRN separatists historical context of Patanimore concise summary.