PATTAYA, THAILAND – Police questioned four people and issued formal warnings to two motorbike taxi drivers after a nighttime clash involving a foreign tourist on Soi 6.
Video sparks attention on social media
A video circulated on social media showed a group of men becoming physical in front of a venue on Soi 6. The images drew widespread attention and raised questions about security in the busy nightlife area.
According to initial assessments, the men involved were identified as motorbike taxi drivers who worked in the vicinity of Soi 6. Investigators used the footage as a starting point to trace those present at the scene.
Incident in the early hours of 13 April
Police reported that the confrontation took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Soi 6 in South Pattaya. The street was known as a busy nightlife strip with heavy pedestrian traffic.
The incident occurred during the Songkran holiday period, when visitor numbers in Pattaya’s night districts were significantly higher than usual. Authorities noted that the area was particularly crowded at the time of the altercation.
Police question four people involved
Pol. Lt. Col. Arut Saphanon, deputy investigation inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, said investigators and traffic police were deployed to identify those involved. Officers coordinated to match people with the individuals seen in the video.
Four people appeared for questioning: two motorbike taxi drivers and two employees of an entertainment venue. Their statements were recorded and secured as evidence for the ongoing case.
Investigation: tourist allegedly started dispute
According to the current state of the investigation, the foreign tourist allegedly first attacked a Thai man in front of the building. Motorbike taxi drivers then reportedly intervened to stop the situation.
The conflict subsequently escalated. Police stated that the tourist allegedly also physically attacked one of the drivers, which led to a counterattack by the group.
Warnings issued, monitoring continues
The two motorbike taxi drivers received formal warnings from the police. Officials said they remained under observation while the investigation continued.
Police emphasized their intention to treat all parties fairly and in accordance with applicable law. Decisions on possible charges were to be made only after the collection and review of all evidence.
Injured tourist still not located
Authorities were searching for the injured tourist in order to take his statement and fully document what had happened. His whereabouts were currently unknown.
In parallel, investigators were securing additional evidence, including camera footage from the Soi 6 area. Only after this process would decisions be made on potential charges and who they might target.
Security debate during peak season
The incident triggered a public debate about safety in heavily frequented nightlife zones. The widely shared video was recorded in an area that was particularly busy during the holiday period.
Pattaya police had increased their presence in the city center during the Songkran days. It was not initially known whether the specific stretch of Soi 6 was among the parts of the city placed under heightened surveillance.