Fake bombs allegedly intended to sow fear were found across the bustling Thai island of Phuket last week.

Police said they have recovered improvised explosive devices believed to have been planted by suspected terrorists in eight locations in the popular tourist destination.

The spate of attempted bombings was linked to two suspects, Muhama Wadeng, 29, and Sulaiman Gaza, 27, who were arrested in neighbouring Phang Nga province on June 24 as they Thailand allegedly transporting homemade bombs to Phuket.

Authorities launched searches based on the pair's testimony.

They have since collected explosives from busy areas such as the car park of the Phuket International Airport, Patong, Naiyang and Surin Beaches, Promthep Cape, and Sarasin Bridge, which connects Phuket to the mainland in Phang Nga.

Commander Lieutenant Paisarn Noosang, commander of the Fourth Army Area, said: 'We believe the bombs were designed only to make loud noises rather than to cause fatalities.

'Insurgent leaders based in a neighbouring country were attempting to sow chaos at major tourist destinations in the southern region to damage the economy.'

Islamic separatist terror attacks target the three southernmost provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - next to the border with Mulsim neighbours Malaysia. Thai state employees and infrastructure are often hit, while attacks on civilians are rare.

Officials believe the conflict dates to a deal in 1909 that the British Empire struck to incorporate the Muslim region into the Siamese mainland.

The region's culture is more similar to Malaysia and dramatically different to Buddhist Thais, causing decades of tension that lead to the emergence of separatist groups fighting for independence in the 1960s.

The struggle has continued ever since, with more than 7,344 people killed and 13,641 injured between January 2004 and March 2022.

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.