A series of explosions and fires at least 10 shops and a petrol station rocked southern Thailand in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Officials believe the attacks were coordinated by Islamic terrorists pushing for the separation of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani from the authority of the Thai government.

Several 'Big C' and 7-11 stores - some of the few corporate chains to operate in the dangerous region - were targeted.

Thailand's 4th Army Region, which is responsible for security in the southern provinces, has not responded to the attacks.

The southernmost provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - have been blighted by terrorism for several decades, dating back to a deal in 1909 between the British Empire to incorporate the Muslim region into the main country of Siam.

The area's culture is more similar to Malaysia and dramatically different to Buddhist Thais and armed separatist groups emerged fighting for independence in the 1960s.

The struggle has continued ever since with more than 7,290 people killed between January 2004 and October 2021. There were an average of 38.8 incidents and 36.7 casualties a month in 2021, according to data from Deep South Watch.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office warns against all but essential travel to the region while Canada's government warns its nationals to 'avoid all travel' to the three provinces.