Pathum Thani Police nab 17 teen gang members after explosions
Gang violence in the Greater Bangkok province of Pathum Thani has escalated with 17 teenagers being arrested by police after throwing small bombs at each other. Thai news media reported that in the province to the north of Bangkok, on Soi Thammasuthee 23, Moo 5, in Muang district, explosions were heard three separate times related to gang wars.
The first two explosions in the area resulted in little to no response from the police. The first time, at the end of last year on December 29, a few motorbike riding gang members were given a warning and have their details collected, but the second time was not even reported to the police and no action was taken.
Most recently, an explosion rocked the neighbourhood on July 19 in the wee hours. This time, the violence and explosives were caught on CCTV footage that was able to display what occurred.
At 1.25 am, about 50 people gathered up in the streets, writing 25 motorbikes. The confrontation appears to be between two rival gangs name the Goldfish Flats and the Sam Khok Mob. The gang members all appear to be teenagers, mostly between the ages of 15 and 19, according to police.
Armed with clear CCTV footage, police this time were able to track the people who attended the brawl and made a series of arrests in the case of this third explosion. Police took into custody 17 gang members in total, and charge them with seven different crimes including being in possession of and carrying explosive devices. All 17 arrested have confessed to the charges.
During the arrest, police confiscated several motorcycles that bore the names of the two rival gangs, as well as evidence linked to the crime and the CCTV footage including clothes and helmets that were worn during the gang fight. They also seized a number of weapons including swords from the 17 suspects in the explosion.
SOURCE: ASEAN Now
