The attack by up to six attackers from the back of a Toyota pick-up truck took place at around 8am when police were about to raise the national flag and sing the national anthem in front of the precinct.

As police returned fire, the truck sped away.

Corporal Supaksorn Sayukhongthon, 30, was pronounced dead at hospital.

The wounded police are Sgt-Major Theerapong Kaewchamnan, 46, Lance Corporal Pichit Thongros, 31, and Lance Corporal Pongsathorn Kaewpradit, 23.

It was later reported that the pick-up truck used in the attack was stolen in the province’s Sukhirin district on Thursday morning but the vehicle’s owner had not filed a complaint before the attack occurred.

A source at the National Security Agency said the attack might be in retaliation to the Army’s extrajudicial killing of two national security suspects Isma-ae Hama, 28, and Aseng Useng, 30 in the province’s Rusoh district on Wednesday.

The duo was suspected of being involved in the March 2 drive-by shooting attack of assistant village headman Somchai Thongchan in Rusoh, which led to four deaths including an eight-year-old boy.

In a separate incident, police found the body of volunteer paramilitary ranger Safiru Hasimae in tambon Baro of Yala’s Yaha district. The body had gunshot wounds.