A second suspected explosive was found at a popular beach in Phuket as Thailand's southern provinces faced a spate of bomb threats in recent weeks,

Explosive ordnance teams discovered and disarmed two alleged bombs at the busy Patong Beach on the crowded holiday island.

The first, disguised as a water canteen, was found buried under a tree near a construction site toilet on Thursday, June 26. The second was discovered the next day, buried some 165 feet away from the first bomb.

Police said they were scouring Surin Beach after two suspects linked to the alleged bombing attempts reportedly confessed they had planted two additional explosives there.

Footage shows bomb disposal teams using metal detectors as they swept through the area, which has been cordoned off from tourists and locals.

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.'

Two suspects, Muhama Wadeng, 29, and Sulaiman Gaza, 27, were arrested in neighbouring Phang Nga, where they were caught with homemade bombs as they were heading to Phuket. Three other suspects were later arrested in Bangkok and Pattani in Thailand's deep south.

Authorities have since found and defused numerous bombs hidden across the region, including the car park of the Phuket International Airport, Patong and Surin Beaches, the Krabi Central Mosque, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, and Promthep Cape.

Islamic separatist terror attacks target the three southernmost provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - next to the border with Mulsim neighbors 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.