Thai police probing bombing link to southern violence

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 file photo, an ambulance is seen on a street after explosions occurred overnight and Friday morning in the tourist city of Hua Hin, Thailand. Thai authorities said Monday, Aug. 15, they are investigating whether bombings last week at several popular tourist destinations were related to long-term separatist violence in the country's far south, backing away from assertions that partisan politics were behind them. (AP Photo/Penny Yi Wang, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 file, investigators work at the scene of an explosion in the resort town of Hua Hin, 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of Bangkok, Thailand. Thai authorities said Monday, Aug. 15, they are investigating whether bombings last week at several popular tourist destinations were related to long-term separatist violence in the country's far south, backing away from assertions that partisan politics were behind them. (AP Photo/Jerry Harmer, File) (The Associated Press)

Thai authorities say they are investigating whether bombings last week at several popular tourist destinations were related to long-term separatist violence in the country's far south.

Police have made no formal arrests in the bomb and arson attacks in seven towns that killed four people and wounded dozens. They told a news conference Monday that several people have been detained by the military for questioning, but declined to provide details.

The attackers' tactics have led to speculation that the bombings were carried out by Muslim separatists in Thailand's southernmost provinces who have staged a low-level insurgency since 2004.

National police chief Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda said Monday that there were similarities between the tourist spot bombings and those carried out by the separatists.