Thailand’s national police chief, Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, flew to the north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani today (Thursday) to oversee the investigation into last night’s shootout in a department store parking lot, which left two dead and seven wounded. One person has now been arrested.
The gunfight, described as brazen by the authorities, is top trending of Thai Twitter today, with many netizens condemning the incident and some of them exposing the backgrounds of some of the alleged shooters.
According to the Ubon Ratchathani police, ll the seven injured and the two deceased were allegedly involved in the shootout and were guards at two pubs located near the Big C department store’s parking lot.
Two rival groups, each numbering about ten, arranged to meet at the car park last night to settle a dispute, but they failed and then several drew weapons and fired at each other.
More than 100 spent shells of different calibres, fired from M16 assault rifles, 9mm pistols and shotguns, were found scattered around the car park.
The police commander of Ubon Ratchathani said that he will propose that the provincial governor close the two pubs, noting that they were permitted to sell liquor but not to operate as entertainment venues.
The prime minister also ordered the police to get tough with people illegally carrying weapons in public, according to Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.
