Three people were killed in cold blood in restive southern province of Pattani, Bangkok Post online reported on Tuesday.

Police were told by witnesses that about 7:30 p.m. of Monday the three victims were traveling in a pickup truck. Six armed men in official looking uniforms signaled the vehicle to stop at an intersection in Pattani's Kapor district.

The gunmen told them to get out of the vehicle and then opened fire at them with M16 assault rifles right in front of watching villagers. The victims each took several bullets in the head and body and died on the spot.

The killers then fled in the victims' pickup truck.

One victim was identified as Wanchai Napasin, 17. There were no identity documents on the other two victims.

Police believed it was the work of separatist militants who wanted to steal the pickup truck for later use as a car bomb.

Police blamed suspected southern separatists responsible for the crime.

More than 5,000 people have been killed and over 8,400 hurt in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, since violence erupted in January 2004, according to Deep South Watch -- an agency that monitors the conflict in the southernmost provinces.