A young man has been hospitalised with a bullet wound to his foot following an altercation between rival gangs in Phuket.
Police are investigating the incident, including claims from one side that Molotov cocktails were thrown at them.
The incident happened on Thepsrisin Bridge, which crosses Khlong Ko Phi on the west side of Phuket Town and connects Saphan Hin to Sakdidet Road in Wichit, according to The Phuket News reports.
Staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital notified Phuket City Police at around 12.20am yesterday, Monday 26, that a man had been admitted with a bullet wound to his left heel. Medical personnel removed the bullet and treated his injury.
On arrival at the hospital emergency room, officers spoke with the patient, named as Nanphiphat Srisuwan. He told police he had been shot following an altercation with a group of youths on Thepsrisin Bridge.
According to Nanphiphat’s friend, named only as Mr Diao, he and the victim were hanging out with some other friends at Saphan Hin playground and decided to go to a friend’s place in Wichit.
When they reached Thepsrisin Bridge, a group of 5 young men approached on 2 motorbikes and began provoking them. According to Diao, the group then threw Molotov cocktails at them and fired gunshots in their direction. Nanphiphat was on the back of a motorbike being driven by Diao and was shot in his left heel.
Investigating officers travelled to the scene and found scorch marks and broken glass on the road, which they believe are the remains of Molotov cocktails. Police are checking CCTV footage of the area as they attempt to track down the alleged attackers.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
