Eighteen people were injured after two bombs exploded outside an emergency coronavirus meeting in southern Thailand this morning (March 17).<br /><br />Government officials were holding a meeting in Yala province along the border with Malaysia to discuss measures to stop the spread of the Covid-19 infection when the devices were detonated.<br /><br />The explosions were reported to have injured at least 18 people including ten civilians, five journalists, two police officers and a soldier. <br /><br />CCTV footage shows a white Toyota pickup truck park in the front of the building before the driver leaves on a waiting motorcycle. The vehicle exploded moments later.<br /><br />Shortly after that the first bomb exploded near the centre, a second bomb detonated under a pickup truck.<br /><br />The army rushed to the scene and closed nearby roads while they begin an investigation.<br /><br />Police Major General Prabphan Meemongkol said the casualties are now at the hospital. <br /><br />He said: "Initially, the injured victims were rushed to the hospital and now we are investigating the scene."<br /><br />The explosions happened outside the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre where officials were discussing the Malaysian government's decision to lock down the country by closing borders.<br /><br />Thailand's southern provinces including Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani have a history of violence lead by Islamist separatist groups connected to Malaysia that dispute Buddhist Thailand's claim over the region.
