Thai police arrest four after ambush knife attack in Phuket

Thalang police apprehended four individuals in connection with a knife attack on a teenager in an ambush at the Heroines Monument in Phuket last Thursday.

A resident of Cherng Talay, Natthakorn Kantaphong, recounted the events leading up to the attack. According to his statement, he was at the Saphan Hin gymnasium with his friends when he noticed his nemesis, Kandit Srimuang, known as D-Mac, waiting for him.

Natthakorn contacted a friend to pick him up and arranged for a motorbike to be brought to him in front of the Limelight shopping mall in Phuket Town. He then rode north on Thepkrasattri Road with his friends. Upon reaching the Heroines Monument, they encountered Kandit’s group, who were allegedly waiting to ambush them.

The report described the assailants as a group of six to eight individuals on approximately three motorbikes. A knife was used in the attack but Natthakorn and his companions managed to escape without serious injuries.

CCTV footage from Srisoonthorn Municipality captured the ambush, showing the assailants riding around the monument in the wrong direction to ram into and attack their victims. Other vehicles continued to pass by as the attack unfolded.

The ambush took place at 10.57pm, according to the report. Additional CCTV footage from another location, time-stamped 9.12pm, depicted a collision between two motorbikes near local shops, where motorbikes were seen speeding in succession. The near head-on collision was followed by shouting, although the individuals involved were out of view.

A man without a shirt approached the crash site, maintaining his distance but yelling at the youths. Natthakorn indicated in his report that his parent(s) intervened before he could sustain serious injuries. He suffered minor abrasions from the collision, as shown in police photographs.

Photos released by Thalang Police depicted at least four youths being questioned. Despite the arrests, Thalang Police have not yet confirmed any charges related to the incident, reported the Phuket News.