BANGKOK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- An unknown number of attackers opened fire at a mosque in Thai southern province of Songkhla on Thursday night, killing five villagers and injuring two others.

    The attack took place at the Kolobuyoh Mosque in Sabayoi district of Songkhla at about 8:50 p.m. local time (1350 GMT), local news network The Nation said.

    The villagers were standing in front of the mosque after the evening prayer when a group of attackers riding motorcycles fired at them. Five villagers were killed on the spot and two injured.

    Over the past three-and-a-half years, more than 2,100 people have died in the violence which plagued Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. The violence sometimes also spread to nearby province of Songkhla. ¡¡