Woman killed in Thai tea shop blast

A bomb exploded today in front of a crowded tea shop in restive southern Thailand, killing one woman and injuring 23 other people, police said.

The bomb was hidden in a bag and placed inside a telephone booth in front of a busy tea shop in Yala’s urban area, said police Lt Col Jirasit Lomae.

The bombing appeared to be the latest attack by Islamic insurgents whose activities have led to more than 2,200 deaths since January 2004.

The dead woman was a 24-year-old Buddhist, he said. The religions of the other victims were not immediately known.

“The assailants seized an opportunity to stage an attack when police and soldiers were taking a rest,” he said, adding that they were exhausted after finishing their task of providing security for a trade fair in the province.

Meanwhile, rail services resumed in the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat today, four days after suspected insurgents sabotaged tracks, causing a train to derail in Pattani province and injuring nine passengers, the State Railway of Thailand said.