Bomb attacks hit 11 petrol stations in southern Thailand, injuring 4. Security is on high alert as authorities investigate coordinated overnight explosions.
Bomb attacks hit 11 petrol stations in southern Thailand, injuring 4 [Photo: X]
A wave of coordinated bomb attacks hit petrol stations across southern Thailand on January 11, 2026, leaving 4 people injured and forcing authorities to raise security to the highest level. Explosions and fires broke out almost simultaneously at fuel stations in three provinces, reviving fears of renewed violence in the country’s conflict-hit Deep South.
The attacks come amid local elections and growing political sensitivity in the region, prompting officials to treat the incident as a calculated signal rather than a random act of violence.
Attackers set off explosives at 11 petrol stations across Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces. The blasts occurred within a 40-minute window starting around midnight, according to security officials.
Several fuel pumps caught fire following the explosions. Emergency teams rushed to the scenes and brought the fires under control. Authorities confirmed that four people were injured, including petrol station workers, a firefighter, and a police officer. All victims were hospitalised and are reported to be stable.
Explosives detonated roughly within 40 minutes after midnight, damaging facilities and starting fires at fuel pumps and convenience stores. Security officials reported that at least one police officer and three civilians were injured and taken to hospitals, but none were in critical condition.
Local commanders said masked attackers struck multiple sites almost simultaneously, then fled. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and evidence from the scenes to identify the perpetrators. Authorities closed off affected areas to ensure public safety while forensic teams collected clues.
The petrol stations targeted were spread across three provinces:
Security forces cordoned off these locations and are examining debris to determine how the bombs were placed and triggered.
In response to the attacks, Thailand’s Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 ordered security to the highest level across the Deep South. Military, police, and local officials have tightened road checkpoints, border controls, and patrols. Civilians are urged to stay alert and report suspicious activity.
Authorities have also warned that assisting attackers in any way could lead to criminal charges, including imprisonment or fines under Thai law. Officials are looking to quickly detain suspects and bring them to justice.
The southern provinces of Thailand, Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, have seen a long-running insurgency by groups seeking autonomy from the Buddhist-majority state. Violent incidents are not uncommon, though coordinated strikes of this scale are unusual.
Officials suggested the attacks may have been timed to coincide with local administrative elections on Sunday, aiming to sow fear and undermine confidence in authorities. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said security agencies view the attacks as a possible “signal,” not a straightforward insurgent escalation.
Residents near the blast sites reported hearing explosions around midnight and seeing fires at fuel stations. Some communities were briefly cut off as checkpoints and roadblocks went up. Local businesses have been advised to tighten precautions, and petrol supply authorities confirmed that broader fuel distribution remains stable despite the damage.
No Malaysians were reported harmed, even though the border region sees frequent cross-border movement by workers and traders. The foreign ministry in Kuala Lumpur confirmed no citizens were affected by the blasts.
The Royal Thai Army condemned the attacks as unlawful and dangerous, saying targeting civilian infrastructure only deepens public fear and erodes trust. Army spokespeople stressed that such violence cannot be justified by any ideology and urged all sectors to aid security efforts.
Political leaders and peace advocates also condemned the attacks and called for renewed focus on long-term solutions for peace, stressing that violence harms economic confidence and the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
