23 Yala banks hit by bomb blasts. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

Yala - Muslim militants launched 23 coordinated time bomb attacks at commercial banks in this southern province Thursday, killing at least one man and severely injuring at least four bank customers, police said.

The bombs, mostly left on bank counters and some in ATM booths at the banks, were detonated mostly by clocks between 11:30 to 11:35 am. Twenty six people suffered minor injuries.

Police said militants dressed in student uniformed carried bombs hidden in folders, books and plastic banks and left them on counters where customers wrote bank slips.

The attacks prompted all banks in the province to close its business for a day and at least five schools decided to close and released students home.

The attacks were carried out in five districts - 11 in Muang, six in Betong, 2 in Yaha, 2 in Bannang Sata and 2 in Raman.

Police said most of the injured were those who came in to draw cash from ATM machines.

Most of the bombs were hidden in thick books, which pages carved out or in women handbags.