NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A man riding a chopper bike was arrested after petrol bombs were thrown at a district office, police station and police booth in Khong district late on Tuesday night.
When apprehended, Paithoon Theppawong, 37, of Khong district, was wearing a white robe and appeared to be out of his mind, police said. He was incoherent and made confusing remarks while being questioned.
Police seized from him three bottles filled with petrol, a knife, some joss sticks, a cigarette lighter, a mobile phone and some cash. He was charged with arson.
He was stopped and arrested after three government facilities - the Khong district office, the district police station and a police booth in front of the Khong tambon municipal market - were fire-bombed around midnight.
Extensive damage was caused by several Molotov cocktails thrown inside the district office around 11.53pm. They set alight the first and second floors, police said. Firefighters took about 30 minutes to put out the blaze.
Flaming petrol bombs were also thrown at the police station and police booth at the market.
Witnesses told police the attacker was a man aged 30-40 years riding a chopper bike and wearing a white robe.
The suspect was caught shortly afterwards.
Police and officials examine the damage at the fire-bombed Khong district office. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)