BANGKOK, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government on Tuesday blamed insurgents for a bomb attack in southern Thailand's Pattani province, ordering an urgent hunt for the attackers.
The government condemned the attack at a busy market in the southernmost province that killed a woman and a 14-year-old boy.
The attack happened on Monday afternoon when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded in the market. The boy and the woman, 35, died on the spot. Four rangers and another 18 people were injured and rushed to hospital, reports said.
The explosion damaged cars and motors parked nearby. Police linked the incident to southern insurgency, saying more unrest is feared in the final week of Ramadan that ends on June 4.
"The incident was committed by a group of people who have performed such attacks before," Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan in charge of the country's defense said.
Pramote, spokesman of a counter insurgency agency, urged all sectors to unite to oppose and condemn the incident.
Security has been tightened in three southernmost provinces - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
Southern Thailand has been gripped by gunfights and bomb attacks by separatists since 2004. The insurgency has killed at least 6,500 people.
Insurgents launch frequent attacks on security forces including police, rangers and soldiers.
