The Fourth Army Region Commander has ordered the highest level of security measures following bomb attacks at 11 gas stations, targeting the economic system. Authorities have not ruled out any motives behind the attacks yet.
On 11 January 2026, it was reported that hostile groups carried out bomb attacks at 11 gas stations in the southern border provinces during the late night of 10 January 2026.
Narathiwat province: 5 locations
Pattani province: 2 locations
Yala province: 4 locations
Most recently, Lieutenant General Narathip Phoinok, Fourth Army Region Commander, along with Mr. Kongsakun Chantrarach, Governor of Yala province, and security forces including military, police, local administrative officers, and bomb disposal teams have been closely monitoring the situation at the PTT gas station on Highway 418 (Pattani–Yala route) inbound to Yala city, Tha Sap subdistrict, Mueang district, Yala province.
Initial findings at the PTT Tha Sap station inbound to Yala city show total damage to all fuel pumps and the station building, with debris scattered throughout the area. Authorities have cordoned off the site to allow bomb disposal teams to conduct thorough inspections, taking special precautions amid concerns that perpetrators might lure officials into a trap for a repeat attack.
Lieutenant General Narathip Phoinok stated that the bombings occurred at 11 PTT gas stations across the three southern border provinces last night. He has ordered all task forces in the area, including security agencies, military, police, and local officials, to raise security measures to the highest level at all locations, including the targeted gas stations, other fuel stations, checkpoints, and roadblocks. Border protection companies have been instructed to close all entrances and exits except official permanent border crossings, where officers will work with customs and immigration to strictly monitor movement.
He added that the attacks destroyed the festive atmosphere of National Children's Day, when many locals gathered happily for events in the three provinces—a good omen reflecting community cooperation and improving economic conditions. However, the bombings occurred overnight, damaging this progress. Authorities will now consider additional measures, as the attacks are seen as attempts to undermine the recovering economy. For today's local administrative elections, the provincial task force has imposed strict control measures, with police deploying forces to ensure election security.
Authorities have not ruled out any motives behind the bombings at 11 gas stations in the three southern border provinces, including local elections, insurgent group actions from last night, local or national political issues, or attempts to intimidate citizens from voting. No possible motive has been dismissed yet.
Currently, officials are reviewing CCTV footage, escape routes, and examining motorcycles used in the attacks. They are collecting detailed forensic evidence from the scenes to expedite the investigation and bring those responsible to justice as quickly as possible.
Preliminary information indicates that perpetrators at the PTT gas station on Highway 418 (Pattani–Yala route) were young men riding motorcycles who stopped, fired shots into the air, forced the gas station attendants to leave, and then planted three bombs at the fuel pumps, causing explosions and fires that destroyed the pumps completely.