PHUKET, THAILAND – Two people were injured and a foreign suspect remained at large after three separate nighttime attacks that unsettled residents and tourists on the island.
Young man from Myanmar injured at Coral Beach
Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, the usually tranquil Coral Beach in Patong turned into a crime scene. The 21-year-old Maung Maung Aye from Myanmar had been sitting by the sea with friends when a group of teenagers approached on motorcycles. Without warning, one of the youths attacked him in the rib area.
He was taken conscious to Patong Hospital for treatment. The assailants fled the scene, and police were examining surveillance cameras in an effort to identify the attackers.
Woman stabbed in supermarket in Phuket Town
Barely 90 minutes later, another violent incident occurred in a completely different part of the island. At around 4:10 a.m., an attack was reported inside the Tops Supermarket on Mae Luan Road in Phuket Town. The 26-year-old Waranya was injured multiple times on her back and neck by her 36-year-old boyfriend, Choktawee.
Witnesses intervened and alerted police, who arrested the suspect at the scene. According to officers, the man was suffering from a mental illness that could explain the outburst of violence.
Tourist hub unsettled by back-to-back incidents
The two attacks left both island residents and tourists deeply unsettled. The violence took place in locations generally considered safe for visitors: a beach and a supermarket. Particularly troubling for investigators, the first assault at Coral Beach appeared to be entirely without motive.
No belongings were stolen and there was no prior argument reported before the attack on Maung Maung Aye. Police said they were pursuing investigations in both cases and examining possible links, while stressing that the circumstances appeared very different.
Third case: foreign suspect sought after nightclub assault
The series of incidents continued with a third, separately reported case involving a tall foreigner who remained on the run. He was alleged to have attacked a British man with a weapon outside a nightclub in the Choeng Talay district. Authorities said the search for this suspect was in full swing.
Police on the island were under mounting pressure to ensure security in one of the world’s most famous holiday destinations. Investigations into the first two incidents were proceeding in parallel as officers also coordinated efforts to locate the foreign suspect.
Police vow to use all means to restore safety
An official police statement promised firm action against those responsible.
“We will use all available means to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
said police officials.
Officers described the arrest of the supermarket attacker as an initial success but acknowledged that concerns remained high. Locals and visitors alike were left wondering whether the three incidents were a tragic coincidence or the sign of a dangerous new trend on Phuket, and many hoped for a swift calming of the situation.