Bangkok bus stop assault raises public safety concerns

A young woman shared her harrowing experience of being assaulted at a bus stop in Bangkok, vowing never to take a bus again. This incident, which she posted about on TikTok yesterday, August 20, has left her deeply shaken and questioning her safety in public spaces.

A TikTok user, @dr.fk.surgeon, recounted a distressing event while taking her younger sister on a bus in Bangkok yesterday. She stated that the situation unfolded rapidly, leaving her shocked, fearful, and tearful. In her post, she expressed that she would never ride a bus again after this traumatic incident.

The ordeal began at the Chatuchak Park bus stop, where she and her sister were waiting. A man, who initially appeared normal, sat down next to them.

He was dressed ordinarily and wearing headphones while talking on the phone. Suddenly, the man assaulted her. She couldn’t determine whether she had been punched or hit on the back due to the speed of the incident. The TikTok clip shows the man sitting at the bus stop with an ID card hanging around his neck.

“We were terrified and I screamed out in pain because it hurt a lot.”

After the attack, she stood up and confronted the man, who quickly displayed the ID card hanging from his neck. She felt a mixture of sadness, pain, and fear. Another woman at the bus stop informed her that the man was not acting normally.

Despite the crowded area, she couldn’t locate any security personnel or officials. Just then, their bus arrived, prompting them to quickly board it.

Once on the bus, the woman encountered more unpleasantness. She recounted how someone farted and, while texting her family, the bus braked suddenly, causing her to nearly fall. The series of unfortunate events made her decide to get off the bus and drive back home instead, reported KhaoSod.

“The incident happened so fast. I was shocked, scared, and confused, with tears welling up… but I tried to stay calm. Luckily, my sister was with me, but I have no idea which agency or whom to report this to.”

This post has sparked a conversation about safety in public transportation and the need for better security measures, especially for women. Public responses have ranged from sympathy to calls for action to ensure such incidents do not happen again.