A 31-year-old drug-addicted armed man who was holding hostages at a relative’s house opened fire on Bangkok police.

A tense situation unfolded in the Bangkok Noi neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday as police tried throughout the day to persuade an armed and mentally unstable 31-year-old man to surrender. Nathawat, also known as Tay Watiang, had been holed up in his relatives’ two-story house on Soi Wat Lakhon Tam Street since the morning.

According to eyewitnesses, around 7 am7 am, Nathawat tried to break into the homes of local residents. Unsuccessful, he broke into his relatives’ house, where four hostages were believed to be held. Fortunately, all of them were subsequently released. At around 8:10 am, the man began firing indiscriminately into the air and also opened fire at police officers who arrived on the scene. No one was injured.

According to information provided by Nathawat’s family and friends, he was armed with a pistol, a knife, and an improvised explosive device. His wife, Sommuth, told police that her husband’s inappropriate behavior was caused by prolonged drug use. The couple had been in conflict for the past four days, which led to this morning’s gun incident.

Natawat’s father, 68-year-old Sirichai Pataratada, said his son has two children and that the quarrels with his wife often stem from drug use. Police deployed riot police and experienced negotiators to try to calm the man down and induce him to surrender. However, by 6 pm, Nathawat continued to refuse to surrender.

As a last resort, the police planned to involve Nathawat’s mother in the negotiations, hoping that her presence and persuasion would make a difference. The incident caused serious concern amongst residents of the neighbourhood, who anxiously watched the events unfold.

The incident underscores the severity of the problem of drug addiction and drug trafficking in Thailand. While the authorities regularly conduct operations to combat drug-related crime, the situation remains complex and requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug addicts. The police continue to work at the scene, taking all possible measures to resolve the situation peacefully and apprehend the perpetrator.

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