Pattani, Thailand - A powerful bomb exploded Saturday at Pattani's popular CS Hotel, killing two and injuring at least 14, including owner Anusas Suwanmongkhol and Nation Multimedia Group journalist Pares Lohasen.

A smaller bomb had exploded at 8pm in a groundfloor restroom, causing little damage. Then 20 minutes later another was detonated outside the hotel coffee shop.

A security guard was killed instantly, and a hotel driver died later in hospital. Of the injured, five were taken to hospital. The explosion broke all the eightstorey hotel's windows.

Anusas is an appointed senator.

The bomb was hid inside a car parked in front of the hotel about 15 metres from the lobby.

Two of the injured were in critical condition.

The injured were rushed to the provincial hospital.

A security official said the car bomb might be linked to a failed car bomb attempt in Yala in which the alleged insurgent was killed in the afternoon because the two cars were from the same make and colour.

The security source said the insurgents chose the spot because leading figures often came to drink coffee and chat at the lobby.

The hotel is about 1 kilometre away from another hotel where the Thai Journalist Association was holding a seminar.

The source said while security officials stepped up protection of the hotel where the seminar was being held, security measures at CS Hotel might lax, allowing the attack to be made.