TRANG - One man was killed and five other people were injured when a bomb went off in Muang district on Thursday.
The explosion occurred on Ruenrom Road in tambon Thap Thieng, about 200 metres from the house of the provincial police chief and near the city hall, government office complex and office of the provincial election committee.
The bomb went off at about 3pm while vendors were preparing their goods for sale on the road, which was turned into a walking-street market for the day.
Former sailor PO Picherd Viriyanuparbpong, 51, who sold fried doughsticks at the market, later died during surgery at Trang Hospital, it was reported at 6pm on Thursday. Wanthanee Viriyanuparbpong, 45, was reportedly receiving intensive care.
After the blast, about 50 policemen were deployed to seal off the area to facilitate police investigation.
The bomb was believed to be well-planned as witnesses earlier saw a man bring a suspicious object to the area.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon expressed his condolences to the victims and told security officials in the area to be vigilant and speed up the investigation.
A defence spokesman said initial reports did not indicate links to prevailing violence in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
Soldiers and police are investigating the incident. Army region 4 chief Lt Gen Vivat Pathompak said the motive was possibly conflicts of interests among groups in the area.