MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The first bomb exploded inside the mall at 2 p.m. local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, while the second one planted in a motorbike parked outside blew up as people were leaving the building.
Two people sustained critical injuries and 21 have already been discharged from hospitals, The Bangkok Post newspaper reported.
Thai Deputy Defense Minister Udomdej Sitabutr has ruled out the possible involvement of the Daesh terror group (banned in Russia) in the bombings.
Thailand's southern-most Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces on the border with Malaysia are majority-Malay and predominantly Muslim, whereas the rest of the state’s provinces are mostly populated by Buddhists.
Violence in the region escalated in 2000 and a state of emergency was declared in 2004. Amid the turmoil, several groups of Muslim militants have demanded autonomy for the region or complete secession from Thailand. About 6,500 people have been killed during the ongoing conflict, with the majority of them being civilians.
