<p>At least three people were killed and 55 injured in a spate of bombing attacks today in crisis-wracked Thailand's deep south, where an Islamic insurgency has raged for a decade, the military and Thai media reports said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Attacks were reported in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces, according to the reports, which also said gunfire was heard in at least one area.<br /><br />Southern region military spokesman Colonel Piamote Prom-In told Thai television the attacks broke out in several places this evening.<br /><br />"The explosions occurred in busy areas as people were shopping ahead of curfew," he said, referring to a night-time curfew imposed since Thursday, when the kingdom's army chief seized power in Thailand, deposing the civilian government.<br /><br />"Explosions killed three and injured 55 people. Of those, five people were seriously injured."<br /><br />The Bangkok Post said at least 13 attacks erupted in Pattani provice at about the same time, suggesting a coordinated offensive, at "three 7-Eleven outlets, the office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), an electricity facility and a petrol station in Muang district."<br /><br />The district was left without electricity after the attacks, it said, adding that police reported gunfire was heard near the PEA office.<br /><br />No further details were immediately available on the victims or who was behind the attacks.But suspicion was likely to fall on Islamic insurgents in the Muslim-majority region, which borders on predominantly Muslim Malaysia.<br /><br />The conflict pits shadowy insurgents in the Muslim Malay area against the security forces of mostly Buddhist Thailand.<br /><br />But for the most part, it has been civilians caught in the cross-fire of the regular bombings, shootings and sometimes beheadings.<br /><br />The conflict has claimed more than 6,000 lives, mostly civilians.<br /><br />Thailand annexed the deep south more than a century ago.<br /><br />The rebels want a level of autonomy, accusing Thai authorities of riding roughshod over their Malay culture and carrying out human rights abuses.<br /><br />Observers say there has been an uptick in the violence in recent months following the suspension of peace talks between some rebel factions and Thai authorities.<br /><br />The talks floundered as political turmoil in Bangkok engulfed the government of recently ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra. </p>
<p>At least three people were killed and 55 injured in a spate of bombing attacks today in crisis-wracked Thailand's deep south, where an Islamic insurgency has raged for a decade, the military and Thai media reports said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Attacks were reported in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces, according to the reports, which also said gunfire was heard in at least one area.<br /><br />Southern region military spokesman Colonel Piamote Prom-In told Thai television the attacks broke out in several places this evening.<br /><br />"The explosions occurred in busy areas as people were shopping ahead of curfew," he said, referring to a night-time curfew imposed since Thursday, when the kingdom's army chief seized power in Thailand, deposing the civilian government.<br /><br />"Explosions killed three and injured 55 people. Of those, five people were seriously injured."<br /><br />The Bangkok Post said at least 13 attacks erupted in Pattani provice at about the same time, suggesting a coordinated offensive, at "three 7-Eleven outlets, the office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), an electricity facility and a petrol station in Muang district."<br /><br />The district was left without electricity after the attacks, it said, adding that police reported gunfire was heard near the PEA office.<br /><br />No further details were immediately available on the victims or who was behind the attacks.But suspicion was likely to fall on Islamic insurgents in the Muslim-majority region, which borders on predominantly Muslim Malaysia.<br /><br />The conflict pits shadowy insurgents in the Muslim Malay area against the security forces of mostly Buddhist Thailand.<br /><br />But for the most part, it has been civilians caught in the cross-fire of the regular bombings, shootings and sometimes beheadings.<br /><br />The conflict has claimed more than 6,000 lives, mostly civilians.<br /><br />Thailand annexed the deep south more than a century ago.<br /><br />The rebels want a level of autonomy, accusing Thai authorities of riding roughshod over their Malay culture and carrying out human rights abuses.<br /><br />Observers say there has been an uptick in the violence in recent months following the suspension of peace talks between some rebel factions and Thai authorities.<br /><br />The talks floundered as political turmoil in Bangkok engulfed the government of recently ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra. </p>