Police have filed multiple charges, including one of attempted murder, against the man who allegedly fired over 50 shots in Bangkok’s downtown area early this morning, terrifying people in the neighbourhood.
Other charges include carrying gun in public without a permit, discharging a firearm in a public place and illegal use of narcotics. The suspect’s identity has not yet been released.
Pathumwan police said the attempted murder charge was filed because a ballistic examination showed that some of the gunshots were aimed at a group of people opposite the suspect’s position.
The incident occurred at about 4am in Chula Soi 10, near Chulalongkorn University, which is a market for locally-made sports garments. The periodic gunfire continued for about an hour.
Police rushed to scene and the vicinity was cordoned off, with people living in the neighbourhood being told to stay indoors. A police negotiator talked the shooter into surrendering with no injuries being reported.
An eyewitness told the police that the shots were fired by an unidentified man of about 40 and he and some friends went for a look, only to be fired upon, forcing them to run for cover.
The suspect reportedly told police that he was under stress caused by family and business problems.
The incident in Bangkok comes hot on the heels of a rogue trooper going on a murderous rampage last weekend in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 29 people, including three police officers. The gunman was shot dead by police at the Terminal 21 shopping mall, the scene of a dramatic 12 hour siege.
