By PNA / Xinhua and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Five people were killed and 20 others injured in an explosion in restive Southern province of Pattani, Thai media reported.

At about noon of Friday local time, a bomb attached to a pick- up truck was exploded at a community market in Saiburi district near a gold jewelry shop, immediately killing security officials and local people at the scene.

Prior to the explosion, a group of militants fired bullets at the gold shop, but no one was injured because the shop was closed. The group then fled in a vehicle.

About 15 minutes later, security officials arrived at the scene to inspect the gold shop. The bomb in a pick-up truck parked near the shop was then detonated.

Kraisorn Wisitwong, sheriff of Saiburi district said the incident was well-planned.

Police were investigating.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and over 8,400 injured in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, since violence erupted in January 2004, according to Deep South Watch — an agency that monitors the conflict in the southernmost provinces.