Four villagers were killed and three wounded in a shooting in Thailand's southern province of Pattani on March 9, according to Thai police.

Many news sources said the shooting occurred in Kok Phoe district at about 8pm with at least three attackers.

The local police said they suspect the attack could be connected to extremist organizations operating in southern Thailand.

Thai authorities estimate that nearly 6,000 people have died in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat where there are large populations of Muslim since the insurgency flared in 2004.-VNA