A policeman was shot and seriously wounded while on a routine motorcycle patrol in Samae Dam area of Bangkok's Bang Khunthian district on Sunday night.
Pol Capt Peerapat Duangchanthip, a duty officer at Samae Dam police station, said the attack occurred about 10.20pm on southbound Rama 2 road.
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kriangsak Kongchaem and Pol Sgt Maj Nathaporn Sriwiset, both of Samae Dam police station, were patrolling on a motorcycle along Rama 2 road when their suspicions were aroused by a man aged 25-29 who was filing up his motorcycle at a PTT petrol station.
They turned into the station with the intention of searching him, but the man quickly fled on his motorcycle.
They followed and the man stopped at a Susco petrol station about 500 metres away. He looked like he was waiting to be searched. As the two policemen walked up to him, the man suddenly pulled out a handgun and opened fire at Pol Sgt Maj Nathaporn, but missed him. He then turned his gun on Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kriangsak and fired two shots, hitting him in the neck and the chest.
Seriously wounded, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kriangsak was rushed to Samut Sakhon Hospital.
Pol Sgt Maj Nathaporn radioed nearby checkpoints to intercept the man, who fled after the shooting. However, the gunman was still at large.