Pattani, Thailand – March 16, 2025 – A roadside bombing rocked Thailand’s insurgency-plagued southern province of Pattani yesterday, injuring eight paramilitary rangers and one civilian in a violent attack. The incident occurred around 11:20 AM on March 15 in Muang district, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as an armor-plated pickup truck carrying the rangers approached Talubo Bridge.
Authorities suspect the bomb was planted by separatist insurgents, a tactic frequently employed in the decades-long conflict between ethnic Malay Muslim militants and the Thai government. The injured rangers, part of a paramilitary unit tasked with maintaining security in the volatile region, were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital along with the civilian. All nine victims are reported to be in stable condition.
This bombing follows closely on the heels of another attack just a day earlier on March 14 in Pattani’s Mae Lan district, where nine police officers were injured while protecting teachers—a common target in the conflict.
Local police and military officials have launched an investigation into the March 15 bombing, with efforts underway to identify and apprehend those responsible. The deep south, encompassing Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla, remains a hotspot of violence despite intermittent peace talks between the government and insurgent groups.