23-3-2025 (BANGKOK) Bangkok’s retail sector, a violent confrontation between rival educational institutions has prompted urgent calls for enhanced security protocols, particularly in shopping complexes.
The weekend incident at MBK, a prominent shopping destination in central Bangkok, has drawn sharp criticism from Higher Education Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi, who declared the situation “wholly unacceptable” and vowed to implement stringent measures to curb such disturbances.
The altercation, which erupted in the bustling food court on Saturday evening, involved students from two neighbouring institutions: Rajamangala University of Technology’s Uthenthawai Campus and Pathumwan Institute of Technology. The violence left five students injured, with two requiring intensive care treatment at Police General Hospital due to severe stab wounds.
🇹🇭 MBK Center turned into a battleground as rival students clashed yet again. pic.twitter.com/tcRBcyz8pC
— ᒍᑌᔕT ᗰIKE (@JustMikeMcKay) March 22, 2025
Law enforcement officials managed to apprehend four participants from the melee, which is believed to have involved approximately twenty students in total. According to police investigations, the clash occurred when rival groups inadvertently encountered each other in the dining area, though there are suspicions that some participants may have arrived in smaller groups before congregating at the venue.
The incident has highlighted long-standing tensions between these institutions, both situated near the busy Pathumwan intersection, with MBK Center caught in the crossfire of their rivalry. Minister Isarabhakdi emphasised that educational establishments should be sanctuaries of learning rather than breeding grounds for violence.
In response to the fracas, authorities are considering implementing more thorough security measures, including enhanced weapons screening for visitors to the shopping complex. The minister has also called upon the Royal Thai Police to heighten surveillance in high-risk areas and maintain closer monitoring of students known for participating in such confrontations.
