Foreign tourist to be deported after attack in Hua Hin
Foreign tourist to be deported after attacking disabled woman and others in Hua Hin
A foreign tourist has been detained after allegedly attacking several people, including a disabled woman in a wheelchair, during a violent incident in central Hua Hin on Sunday evening.
Video footage of the Hua Hin attack, which took place on 26 July, was widely shared on social media. The man can be seen in the footage wearing what appears to be a floral-patterned shirt as members of the public attempt to restrain him.
Witnesses told Thai media on Monday that the incident began inside a cannabis shop, where the man allegedly damaged property and attacked another customer before moving outside and assaulting people nearby.
Witnesses describe Hua Hin attack
A screenshot from a video which shows the suspect confronting people in Hua Hin
Suchitra Namthong, 20, a nail technician who filmed part of the incident, said she heard an argument at the shop across the road while working with a customer.
She said the man attacked another person before shouting and turning on a motorcyclist who had arrived to collect his girlfriend.
According to Suchitra, the man then approached a disabled woman selling flowers from a wheelchair at a street corner. He allegedly pulled away her flowers, struck her in the face and dragged her from the wheelchair.
Several people later intervened near a restaurant and managed to restrain the man. Suchitra said about five people were needed because of his size.
A 32-year-old cannabis shop employee, identified as Am, said she was also injured after going downstairs to investigate the noise.
She said the man struck her on the left side of her face as soon as she opened the door. A cyclist who attempted to intervene was also allegedly attacked.
The employee said the man had visited the shop during the previous two days without causing any problems. She believed the violence followed an argument with another customer, possibly over religion.
She said she understood that the suspect was a Qatari national and that about five people were injured.
Police said six people were identified as victims in the case.
Hua Hin Police have charged the man with assault. Compensation totalling 100,000 baht is to be paid to the victims, with the disabled woman receiving 25,000 baht and the other five victims receiving 15,000 baht each.
Police said the suspect would be handed over to immigration authorities for his visa to be revoked because his violent and aggressive behaviour was considered a threat to the public.
He is expected to be deported following the completion of the legal process.
