Teen Gang Slashes Rescue Volunteer's Face in Rayong
A gang of 8-10 teenagers attacked a 24-year-old rescue volunteer and his friends with knives and fists in front of a motorcycle repair shop in Rayong early on November 6. The victim, Apichat, was slashed across the face and beaten unconscious, requiring six stitches, while his friends were also injured. Police are investigating the unprovoked assault and hunting for the suspects who fled on motorcycles.
A gang of around ten youths launched a brutal attack in the middle of a beer-drinking gathering, asking "Are you tough?" before slashing a rescue volunteer with a knife and beating him unconscious, leaving a friend injured as well. The violence erupted in the early hours.
At 1:30 a.m. on November 6, Lt. Col. Phornphat Sakonsathien, deputy investigator at Mueang Rayong Police Station, received a report from the Sawang Phruk Rescue Foundation that a man had been attacked with knives in front of a motorcycle repair shop on Chaikanpom 1 Road, Cheung Noen Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province. Officers went to investigate but found the victim had already been taken to Rayong Hospital. He was identified as 24-year-old Apichat, a volunteer rescuer with the Sawang Phruk Foundation's Ko Kloy district unit. He suffered a knife wound to the face requiring six stitches.
Apichat told police that before the incident, he had ridden his motorcycle to meet a friend at the repair shop to prepare for a friend's birthday party. While sitting and drinking beer with friends, a group of youths arrived on about four motorcycles, totaling 8-10 people. Two men got off and walked straight toward them, both wearing full-face helmets, brown patterned shirts, and long jeans, while another wore a black shirt and black jeans.
One of the attackers aggressively asked, "Are you tough?" before slashing a knife at Apichat's face. The remaining gang members then swarmed in, beating him relentlessly until he lost consciousness on the ground. His friends who were drinking with him were also assaulted and injured before the gang fled on their motorcycles.
The repair shop owner revealed that Apichat had come to pick up his junior colleague to attend the birthday party. They had only been drinking for a short time when the gang stormed in, slashed his face, and beat him unconscious. The owner tried to intervene with help from a neighbor across the street but could not stop the attackers before they fled.
Apichat's older sister, also a Sawang Phruk volunteer at the Ko Kloy rest stop, expressed anger at the excessive violence. She said her brother confirmed he did not know the attackers and had no prior conflict with them. She urged police to quickly track them down and prosecute to the fullest extent, not letting this group harm anyone else.
Investigators are currently gathering evidence, identifying the suspects, and pursuing legal action.
