A YEAR-OLD girl was killed and her parents severely injured in an explosion over the weekend in Preah Vihear province that police have described as a premeditated attack.

Hun Saravuth, deputy commander of the provincial military police, said the bomb, which exploded at about midnight on Friday, had been placed under the Cham Muslim family's elevated house in Preah Vihear's Kulen district and detonated by remote control.

The parents, whom he identified as Him Les, 42, and Lesro Pihas, 38, had returned home at about 11pm after watching television at a neighbour's house.

The year-old girl, identified only as Liza, died in the explosion, Hun Saravuth said.

The two parents are receiving medical treatment in Phnom Penh, though Hun Saravuth declined to name the hospital in which they were staying.

Motive unknown

"We are investigating the case right now, and we cannot speculate whether this attack was the result of a business deal or of personal revenge," Hun Saravuth said.

Keo Chamroeun, deputy police chief of Preah Vihear province, said Sunday that the victims were not originally from Preah Vihear and were sometimes viewed as "outsiders", but declined to elaborate.