More suspects in Bangkok gang shootout arrested

More suspects in Bangkok gang shootout arrested

A motorcyclist rides past the scene of the Oct 7 gang fight at a parking lot behind the Watergate Pavillion shopping complex in Ratchathewi district. One bystander, an Indian tourist who had just finished a meal at a restaurant, was killed in the crossfire, and four other people wounded. (Bangkok Post file photo)
A motorcyclist rides past the scene of the Oct 7 gang fight at a parking lot behind the Watergate Pavillion shopping complex in Ratchathewi district. One bystander, an Indian tourist who had just finished a meal at a restaurant, was killed in the crossfire, and four other people wounded. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Two more suspects have been arrested over Sunday's street-punks shootout that took the life of an Indian tourist and left four other bystanders wounded in Pratunam area of Bangkok, bringing the total number in detention to 11.

The police hunt continues for a gunman and two others.

Kasem Runphairat, 38, and Nui Krathaithong, 32, were apprehended in Trat’s Koh Chang district on Thursday and taken to Phraya Thai police station in Bangkok for interrogation.

Police earlier obtained arrest warrants for 14 suspects. The latest arrests bring the total now in custody to 11.

The remaining three - Bamphen Phumphuang, 44, Khwan Thongdee, 36, and Withirong Sae Heng, 32 - were still at large on Friday.

Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) investigators  on Thursday accompanied one of the suspects, Sonram Phuphonphan, 25, to the spot where he had hidden an AK-47 rifle that Mr Bamphen allegedly fired during the gang fight, media reported.

Mr Sonram took them to a cock-raising area near a swamp in the Makkasan area where he kept the rifle. 

Acting MPB chief Sutthiphong Wongpin said Phaya Thai investigators were extending the investigation.

If more people were found to have been involved, they would also face arrest, Pol Maj Gen Sutthiphong said.

The shootout between two rival gangs occurred about 8.30pm on the street alongside a parking lot behind the Watergate Pavillion shopping complex in Ratchathewi district.

Two Indians, a Lao national and two Thais were caught in the crossfire.  One man, a visitor from India, was shot dead and the others wounded.

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