An armed man fleeing an arrest warrant took children hostage in a house in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district on Thursday night.

The man, wearing camouflage clothing, intruded into the house where an unknown number of children were staying on the second floor, police said.

Police went to the house and the suspect opened fire, injuring a police officer and one resident.

A special task force and officers from Bang Sue station surrounded the house.

The suspect was wanted for theft, according to a source.

Police had tracked him down, but he fled to Soi Inthamara 29, where he climbed over the wall into the house around 7pm.

Authorities were unable to storm the house for fear that the suspect might harm those inside.

The suspect has since been identified as 38-year-old Santi Jae-arlee, a former boxer.

An update to this story is here.