Bangkok news crew threatened at mall shooting scene
A Bangkok news crew found themselves at the centre of a chilling showdown when alleged bodyguards threatened and detained them while covering a fatal shooting at a mall in the Lat Phrao area.
The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and the Broadcasting Journalists Association of Thailand urged the national police commissioner general to launch an urgent investigation and pursue legal action against those responsible for what they describe as “intimidation of the press.”
In a joint statement released yesterday, April 7, the two associations condemned the incident involving a reporting team from Amarin TV. The crew, which included a female journalist, had arrived at the parking area of the mall to cover the aftermath of a deadly shooting that took place during a festival called Kote Piak.
According to the statement, the team was approached and temporarily detained by a group of men acting as “bodyguards.” One of the men allegedly demanded that the journalist hand over the SIM card from her smartphone, which had been used to film the crime scene. Shockingly, another man reportedly threatened her life, allegedly saying he would “shoot her in the head.”
The tense situation was defused only after officers from Lat Phrao Police Station arrived at the scene. The Amarin TV crew were released unharmed but later filed a formal complaint with the Crime Suppression Division.
The two journalist bodies are now calling for swift legal action to send a clear message that violence or threats against the media will not be tolerated.
“These actions amount to intimidation of the media, who were only there performing their duty,” the statement said.
The incident has sparked outrage among press freedom advocates, especially given the boldness of the threat and the attempt to suppress coverage of a violent crime in a public space. It also raises broader concerns about the safety of reporters in Thailand and the impunity with which some people appear to operate.
Police are reportedly reviewing CCTV footage and witness accounts to identify the men involved and determine whether they had any official connection to the event or individuals linked to the shooting, reported Thai PBS World.
The investigation is ongoing, and more updates are expected as the case develops.
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