City police have arrested a scavenger suspected of carrying out a series of "acid-throwing" attacks in Bangkok.
Rachan: Blames social discrimination
Rachan Theerakitnukul, 50, a saleng, or scrap dealer, was arrested while riding a tricycle at the entrance of Intammara Soi 39 in the Din Daeng area yesterday, Sutthisan police said.
A bottle of Duck brand toilet cleaner was found in his possession.
Mr Rachan initially refused to speak to police, but after two hours of interrogation, he allegedly confessed to throwing toilet-cleansing liquid at one victim in the Saphan Khwai area. He claimed social discrimination and insults by people in society drove him to carry out the attack.
Police said he told them he had picked the toilet cleaner used in the attack out of a rubbish bin.
Victim Meechai Charoensak, 22, yesterday said he and his girlfriend were sprayed with an irritant liquid around 7pm last Monday on Lat Phrao Soi 26 on the way to Wat Lat Phrao to attend a Visakha Bucha Day candle procession ceremony.
The attacker, travelling on a tricycle, suddenly threw a liquid substance at him and his girlfriend.
They both felt a burning sensation on their exposed skin and rushed to Paolo Memorial Hospital on Phahon Yothin Road, Mr Meechai said.
A doctor told him that their burns were caused by a toilet-cleaning liquid.
Mr Meechai yesterday went to Sutthisan police station to identify the suspect.
News of the "acid" attacks hit the headlines recently. Reports of attackers randomly spraying substances that caused burning and skin irritation at people in the city have circulated on the internet over the past two months.
At the pantip.com website, several people say they have been attacked by assailants using water pistols to spray a chemical at them which caused irritation to their skin.
Four female victims have filed complaints at Bang Sue, Phahon Yothin, Lumpini and Sutthisan police stations.
The acting city police chief earlier met the chiefs of Bang Sue, Phahon Yothin, Lumpini and Sutthisan police stations to discuss the "acid" throwing menace.
City police believe the attacks were all carried out by the same person. Mr Rachan is not yet formally considered the prime suspect while police await results of forensic tests on the liquid used in the attacks.
Rachan: Blames social discrimination
Rachan Theerakitnukul, 50, a saleng, or scrap dealer, was arrested while riding a tricycle at the entrance of Intammara Soi 39 in the Din Daeng area yesterday, Sutthisan police said.
A bottle of Duck brand toilet cleaner was found in his possession.
Mr Rachan initially refused to speak to police, but after two hours of interrogation, he allegedly confessed to throwing toilet-cleansing liquid at one victim in the Saphan Khwai area. He claimed social discrimination and insults by people in society drove him to carry out the attack.
Police said he told them he had picked the toilet cleaner used in the attack out of a rubbish bin.
Victim Meechai Charoensak, 22, yesterday said he and his girlfriend were sprayed with an irritant liquid around 7pm last Monday on Lat Phrao Soi 26 on the way to Wat Lat Phrao to attend a Visakha Bucha Day candle procession ceremony.
The attacker, travelling on a tricycle, suddenly threw a liquid substance at him and his girlfriend.
They both felt a burning sensation on their exposed skin and rushed to Paolo Memorial Hospital on Phahon Yothin Road, Mr Meechai said.
A doctor told him that their burns were caused by a toilet-cleaning liquid.
Mr Meechai yesterday went to Sutthisan police station to identify the suspect.
News of the "acid" attacks hit the headlines recently. Reports of attackers randomly spraying substances that caused burning and skin irritation at people in the city have circulated on the internet over the past two months.
At the pantip.com website, several people say they have been attacked by assailants using water pistols to spray a chemical at them which caused irritation to their skin.
Four female victims have filed complaints at Bang Sue, Phahon Yothin, Lumpini and Sutthisan police stations.
The acting city police chief earlier met the chiefs of Bang Sue, Phahon Yothin, Lumpini and Sutthisan police stations to discuss the "acid" throwing menace.
City police believe the attacks were all carried out by the same person. Mr Rachan is not yet formally considered the prime suspect while police await results of forensic tests on the liquid used in the attacks.
