The Australian government has warned travellers of an "ongoing risk of terrorism" across Thailand after police reported finding improvised explosives in tourist areas around Phuket and Krabi.
"Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket," said a statement posted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website.
"Phuket International Airport has increased security measures and passengers should arrive early for their flight. This follows the recent discovery of an explosive device near the airport.
"Thai authorities also defused devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga and made arrests."
Thai officials said on Friday they had arrested two suspects allegedly connected to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the leading group in a decades-long separatist movement which seeks independence for Thailand's southernmost provinces which are majority ethnic Malay and Muslim.
In comments carried by Thai PBS, a spokesperson for the Thai military said two men in their 20s were alleged to have planted some 11 improvised explosive devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.
Thai authorities allege Malay-Muslim militants planted improvised explosives at 11 sites in popular tourist destinations Phuket and Krabi. In response, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a warning about the "ongoing risk of terrorism" across Thailand.
Insurgents have routinely targeted civilians in Thailand's southernmost provinces, but one expert told the ABC they were not known for striking areas such as Phuket.
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