PATTANI, Thailand, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Two people were killed Friday in attacks by separatist militants in southern Thailand, officials said.
A woman was shot dead while driving with her husband and son in Pattani, the Bangkok Post reported. Korde Leeheng was driving to Saiburi with his wife, Sakina Phitak, and his eight-year-old son when gunmen in another car shot at them with AK47 and M16 assault rifles. Sakina was shot several times in her torso and died instantly. Korde and the young boy were seriously injured and taken to a hospital.
The gunmen fled the scene, authorities said.
In Narathiwat, an illegal oil vendor was killed by gunmen while dropping off a shipment of smuggled oil, the Bangkok Post said. Vachira Chanthit, 36, was standing in front of the customer's house when a gunman shot him twice with a .38 caliber pistol, authorities said. He died at the scene.
The Deep South Watch Center at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus, said 33 people have been killed and 41 others have been injured in violent attacks since January.
