Thai gunman arrested after opening fire at Tak petrol station
Panic spreads as shots ring out near busy municipal office
Police launched a swift response and arrested a Thai man who fired random shots outside a petrol station in Mae Sot district, in the northern province of Tak, this morning.
The official Facebook page of Mae Sot Police Station issued a warning to the public at 7.29am, today, May 6. In the post, officers stated: “Maniac man with a gun. Road closed outside Shell petrol station in front of Mae Sot Municipality Office.”
In a subsequent post, police shared that the gunman had opened fire outside the petrol station but did not target anyone. He had arrived at the scene in a black Mitsubishi pickup truck.
Upon the arrival of police officers, the gunman fled the scene and headed towards Siri Niyom Intersection, near Mae Sot International Hospital. Police officers urged motorists and residents to avoid the area for their safety.
At 8.18am, officers informed the public that the suspect was apprehended and that the situation was brought under control. No residents or officers were injured in the operation. The gunman was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Police have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting, and no further details have been released to the public.
In a related report, a series of shootings occurred in Thailand’s Deep South since mid-April, beginning with the killing of a Thai man and a young novice.
On May 2, suspects on three motorcycles fatally shot a family of five in Narathiwat province, resulting in three deaths, including a nine year old girl. On the same day, an elderly woman was also shot and killed in a separate incident.
Two bombs were discovered in the province on May 3. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit successfully neutralised both devices.
Residents, political activists, and politicians have called on the government to take action, expressing concern that the attacks may have been carried out by insurgent groups targeting the region’s Buddhist population.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, reiterated today that the government is not ignoring the crisis. He stated that discussions are planned with representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) to address the ongoing violence.
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