Security personnel have arrested a man believed to be associated with a group responsible for a string of bombings in Satun and Phatthalung over the weekend, a police source said Monday.
Eleven bomb attacks took place in Phatthalung's Muang and Pak Phayun districts and another six happened in Satun's Muang district. No one was hurt in the blasts.
Officers have reviewed footage from CCTV cameras along the road where the attacks in Phatthalung took place, which indicated that at least five people were involved, the source said.
The same source said the suspects were likely between 18-30 years old, and authorities were almost ready to reveal the identities of the perpetrators.
A man seen entering a public park in Muang district before one of the bombs went off was detained for questioning, but he denied any involvement, said the source.
After the bombings, schools in Pak Phayun district decided to suspend classes until tomorrow over concerns about their students' safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who went to visit the provinces to follow up on the investigation, said that the attacks were carried out by insurgents from Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.
Gen Prawit said the perpetrators carried out the attacks in Phattalung and Satun because they were unable to do so in the far South. "I don't think these attacks were politically motivated," he said in reference to the election.
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul concurred with Gen Prawit and stressed the bomb attacks had nothing to do with the election or human trafficking gangs.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had asked the police to deploy more officers to secure the far South ahead of the poll.
Following the blasts, the Royal Thai Police transferred Muang Satun police chief Pacharapol Na Nakon to Pattani. He was replaced by Pol Col Sonthaya Thooptong, the superintendent of Mae Laen police station in Pattani.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, adviser to Gen Prawit, said Monday that intelligence obtained before the blasts took place suggest that insurgents would carry out attacks further north.
The intelligence memo warned authorities about possible attacks until the end of March, he said.
As such, Mr Panitan said, strict security must be put in place throughout the election.
National Security Council secretary-general Wallop Raksanoh said that 5,000 police officers would be deployed to the restive far South to help boost security across the border provinces, and ensure that the upcoming election runs smoothly.
Separately, a military ranger was injured by a roadside bomb blast in tambon Juab of Cho Airong district in Narathiwat Monday morning.
Cpl Mahamad Yuso, 37, was among a group of six soldiers sent to patrol the area.
He sustained shrapnel wounds to his right leg.
