BANGKOK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A powerful bomb hidden at a shop exploded Wednesday, injuring at least 18 people in Thailand's southern province of Pattani, according to local media.

The bombing was a trap set up by suspected militants who earlier shot dead a local motorbike garage owner, identified as Arun Lipistein, at his shop to target police and security officers who arrived later at the scene to investigate the crime, The Nation news website reported.

A gunman firing at Arun at close range with a handgun, police was quoted by the report as saying. Militants then placed a five-kg bomb in the shop.

At least 18 people were injured, ten of them civilians while the rest were security and forensic officers.