Two men were killed in a bomb explosion and a shooting in Yala's Bannang Sata district early Sunday, police said.
The blast took place about 1.20am at a bridge across a canal near Ban Buesu in tambon Bannang Sata when the victims were on their way home from a mosque, police said.
Quoting witnesses, police said the bomb, which weighed about 10kg and was planted on the bridge, was detonated as the victims' motorcycle was passing. After the bomb went off, attackers opened fire, killing both of them on the spot.
The victims were identified as Mahamayuding Pute and Assuwan Yuso, residents of Ban Buesu.
Found near the scene was the wreckage of a fire extinguisher cylinder, a set of batteries, electrical wires and spent bullet shells. They were seized for further examination.
Police said militants are the likely culprits, as the victims were part of a village head's team that had worked with authorities to solve several recent attacks.
Violence has actually increased during the Ramadan fasting month, which will end with the Eid al-Fitr festival on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The team used to work with Pol Gen Sompian Eksomya, a former superintendent of Bannang Sata station who was killed in a roadside bomb attack in the district in early 2010.
Pol Gen Sompian, better known as Sergeant Pian, was a police colonel and months away from mandatory retirement when he was killed in the attack. He was promoted to police general posthumously.
