Six policemen from explosives disposal unit were injured on Saturday from a bomb attack while returning from investigating earlier electrical poles bombings in restive southern province of Yala, Thai media reported.

The explosives disposal unit were on their return from the investigation into early morning incidents. On their way, a bomb blast occurred, injuring six, including one seriously injured, at Yala's Yaha district, the Thai News Agency reported shortly after noon.

Earlier at about 5.30 am local time, there were bombings in three different locations in Yala which caused power outages, with no report of causalities.

Initial investigation found that presumed insurgent had planted explosives at roadside electrical poles. All the bombs were triggered at the same time, causing blackout in the district since 5.30 am.

Security officials believe it was the work of insurgent group.

Meanwhile, in nearby Narathiwat province, a bomb exploded shortly before police arrived at a shooting scene.





After being informed of the shooting incident, police and bomb squad unit rushed to the scene in Sungai Padi district at 7 a.m. local time.

When they arrived, they found a one foot-deep hole near a tree and scattered shrapnel from a 25 kilogramme cooking gas tank in the area.

Police said presumed insurgents wanted to harm local police officers who came to inspect the scene. Fortunately, the bombing missed their targets and no one was injured in the attack.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and over 9,000 hurt in over 11,000 incidents, about 3.5 incidents a day, in Thailand's Muslim, ethnic-Malay dominated three southern border provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla -- since violence erupted in January 2004, according to Deep South Watch, which monitors the regional violence.