Deputy police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen thanked people for help they had received so far, suggesting that the public were their eyes and ears, and the first line of defence against such attacks.

He said anyone who thinks they may have relevant information should call the police hotline on 1599 or contact the police operational centre for southern border provinces on 073 220 220.

“If you spot something unusual such as abandoned or misplaced items as well as strangers behaving suspiciously, you should alert police in person or telephone to those numbers,” Krissana said.

The blasts hit the department store in Pattani’s Muang district, injuring many people and damaging vehicles.

Authorities believed that insurgents intended to kill many people as they attacked a store crowded with people, including children shopping for educational items for the new term.