The first bomb exploded at about 7.30am in Pattani's Panare district. Detonated by remote control, the bomb went off as six soldiers on three motorcycles stopped to help a local resident whose car had been damaged by nails spread on the road. Two soldiers were injured.

The second bomb exploded some 30 minutes later in Mayor district killing Police Senior Sergeant Major Kanitsorn Uthairangsi, 45 who was driving a pickup truck with five police on board. Four officers in the car were injured.

In neighbouring Narathiwat's Rangae district a bomb was defused while another one went off damaging two retail shops. Nobody was hurt.

Patta Saengwong, a shopkeeper, said he had been in the toilet when the bomb went off and had not seen who had planted it.

The bomb, triggered by a clock, damaged his shop.