MAD KNIFEMAN GOES ON RAMPAGE IN PATTAYA

July 16, 2007

MAD KNIFEMAN GOES ON RAMPAGE IN PATTAYA

A tourist and a security guard were slashed by a highly disturbed Thai guy, armed with a machete-like weapon in front of Mike Shopping Mall on Pattaya 2nd Road. He was eventually brought down by police using rubber bullets and high-powered water jets.

On 16th July, at 00.30 am, a 26 year-old, curly-haired individual, claiming to be called Pong, who the police suspect was high on Yah Bah, due to his emaciated condition and subsequent insane behaviour, was seen prowling around in front of popular Mike Shopping Mall armed with a one foot-long knife.

Suddenly, Pong appeared to go berserk, letting out a bellow and slashing out wildly at nearby shoppers. An anonymous tourist was cut on the arm and a Thai security guard, Mr. Mana Lertphum, who tried to intervene, was badly injured, sustaining slashes to his head and neck. The two victims were subsequently taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment.

Pattaya Police quickly arrived at the scene and pursued the knifeman in the direction of Soi Pattaya Land, about 500 metres from the incident, where he once again went on the rampage. With the arrival of the police in the soi, the deranged individual dropped his weapon and grabbed a longer, 3-foot knife from shop in front of Royal Garden Plaza, going to stand by the sign of the Marriot hotel.

Many of the by-standing tourists were alarmed by the antics of the knifeman, but when police encircled and attempted to pacify him, he became even more enraged. After 30 minutes and still no success, Pol.Col.Suthin Sabphueng, Superintendent of Pattaya Police resorted to using the combined tactics of shooting Pong with three rubber bullets and a Fire Department high-powered water jet. Pong was finally subdued and detained, but not before two further injuries had been sustained from Pong’s mad rampage; one to his own right wrist from wielding the machete and one to a fireman, Mr. Suriya Sombutr, who sustained head injuries from a maverick water jet brass connection, which had worked itself loose during the fray.

The knifeman claimed to the police that he only had a forename, Pong. He is 26, unemployed with no family connections. He was used to sleeping rough and begging handouts from tourists. On this occasion, he was out of it on alcohol, He further claimed to have a mental condition, but the police are highly skeptical and suspect him of drug abuse. He will be subjected to a blood test and charged with endangering the public with the use of an offensive weapon.