Bombing of government office in Thailand injures 20

Bangkok: A bombing of a major government office in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued far south Tuesday wounded at least 20 people.

Col. Pramote Prom-in said that a grenade and a car bombing were used to attack the Southern Border Provinces Administration Center in the capital city of Yala province.

“It was crowded with hundreds of people at the time because many local officials had been invited to a meeting about COVID-19,” he said.

A hospital reported 20 people were hurt. Pramote said that none of those wounded were badly injured.

There were no initial claims of responsibility.

Thailand’s three southernmost provinces have been the scene of a Muslim separatist insurgency since 2004. About 7,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the violence.

The center coordinates government policy in the region.