THAI authorities have enforced an immediate curfew in the southern border province of Narathiwat following a series of violent incidents involving bombings and arson attacks in the early hours of Sunday.
Narathiwat Task Force commander Major General Yodawud Puengpak said the curfew took effect immediately and will remain in force until further notice. The order prohibits residents from leaving their homes between 9pm and 5am.
“Authorities will implement a series of measures to maintain public order and security, including tightening controls at border checkpoints along the Thailand–Malaysia border,” he said after visiting the affected areas on Sunday.
Earlier, a total of 11 petrol stations across three southern border provinces were targeted in near-simultaneous attacks. The incidents involved bomb explosions and arson at fuel stations in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani.
According to a statement by the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, preliminary investigations indicate that the attacks were carried out by masked armed groups. The targets included five PTT petrol stations in Narathiwat, four in Yala and two in Pattani, with the attacks reported at around 1.10am.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he had been briefed on the situation and confirmed that no casualties were reported.
He said security agencies assessed that the incidents were intended as a signal linked to the upcoming general election rather than acts aimed at causing mass violence.
Nevertheless, Anutin stressed that such incidents could not be allowed to recur, adding that coordination had been intensified with the Fourth Army Region and the Ninth Regional Police to bring the situation under control.
The curfew and heightened security measures underscore renewed concerns over stability in Thailand’s southern border provinces, where authorities remain on high alert following the attacks. - January 12, 2026
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