5-2-2024 (BANGKOK) A tragic incident unfolded in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani last Thursday, February 1, as a 14-year-old Thai boy lost his life in a hospital after being targeted in a knife attack by two teenagers.
Reports from Kut Khaopun Police Station indicated an altercation between two groups of Thai teenagers erupted on Khutkhaopun-Pathummarat Road around 8 pm on February 1. The victim, a 14-year-old, sustained severe injuries from the knife assault and was swiftly transported to a hospital by witnesses before the arrival of law enforcement.
Initial inquiries revealed that the victim, accompanied by four friends, was riding on two motorcycles when they encountered two rival teenagers on the road. In a bid to avoid conflict, the victim’s group attempted to flee the scene. While two of the friends managed to escape unharmed, the victim and two others fell prey to the attackers.
The assailants, both aged 15, surrendered to the police on February 2. One was riding a motorcycle, while the other hurled the fatal weapon at the victim. They asserted that prior to the altercation, they had been friends with the victim’s group until conflicts arose, leading to their separation.
According to the attackers, the victim, a new member of the group, was not involved in any previous disputes. Their intention was to target a rival motorcyclist, but tragically, the knife struck the victim instead.
The teenagers now face serious charges under Thai law, including intentional murder under Section 288 of the Criminal Law, which carries penalties ranging from the death penalty to imprisonment for 15 to 20 years. Additionally, they are charged under Section 371 of the Criminal Law for carrying a weapon in public places or roads without justification, punishable by imprisonment of up to 1,000 baht.
