Armed stand-off underway with occupants of house in Bangkok

Bangkok police have been engaged in a stand-off with an armed young man, holed-up in a house on Issaraparb Road in Bangkok Noi district, since this morning without any sign that he plans to surrender.

Police say that there are four people hiding in a room on the second floor of the house, while the armed suspect is on the ground floor. Police maintain, however, that this is not a hostage situation and all the people inside the house are still safe.

According to police reports, the armed man fired several shots into the air with a pistol and then broke into a neighbour’s house. Neighbours claim that he often causes a disturbance in the neighbourhood and tries to break into other houses when he is high on drugs.

Police rushed to the scene near a temple in Ban Chang Lor, after they were alerted by residents to the sound of gunshots.

When police arrived at the scene, the armed man fired several shots, but no one was hurt. Police did not, however, try to force their way into the house, for fear that someone might get hurt. They chose to try to talk the man into calming down and surrendering, but without success.

Some friends of the man were brought to the scene to talk him into giving up but, again, it was to no avail.

A drone is being used by the police to monitor the situation in the house.

The suspect’s father reportedly told the police that his son often quarrelled with his wife whenever he took drugs. He said he has no idea where he acquired a gun.

At the time of this report, the situation has not been resolved.