Two Teenagers Attack Buddhist Monk With Knife During Temple Robbery
Two teenagers armed with knives attacked a 27-year-old monk at a temple in Surin Province early July 18, demanding money, but fled empty-handed after he fought back and alerted other monks.
On July 18, 2025, authorities received a report of two teenagers wielding knives who forced their way into the quarters of a Buddhist monk at Wat Phothiraj Samakkhi (also known as Wat Ban Taban) in Muang District, Surin Province, early in the morning. The temple, which houses seven resident monks, had only one monk in the targeted wooden cell—27-year-old Phra Pravet, a native of the temple.
Phra Pravet recounted that the attack occurred around 2:00 a.m. while he was chanting. He heard a motorcycle arrive near the temple gate, and when the temple dogs began barking, he peered through cracks in the wooden wall and saw two teenagers, aged approximately 14-15, climbing toward his cell. They called out "Luang Phi!" (Venerable Brother) three to four times before forcefully kicking open the door. When the door opened, one attacker lunged forward and grabbed his neck, brandishing a kitchen knife measuring approximately 15-20 centimeters, and demanded money while threatening him.
When the attacker briefly lost focus, Phra Pravet fought back and wrestled for the knife, resulting in a violent struggle that caused him to fall from the elevated cell. He then ran to alert other monks in an adjacent cell. Seeing the situation turn against them, the attackers fled on an automatic motorcycle along the Surin-Si Kharin Highway without stealing anything.
Phra Pravet sustained minor injuries, including knife cuts on his fingers and foot, and bruising on his knee from the fall. He noted this was the first such incident at the temple. He could clearly remember the face of one attacker—a small-framed boy aged 14-15. He suspects the attackers may be drug-addicted local teenagers.
After reporting the incident to Muang Surin Police Station, Phra Pravet filed an official complaint. Police are currently investigating and pursuing the suspects for prosecution. Closed-circuit camera footage from a nearby shop captured two motorcyclists passing at 2:09 a.m., though the night-time recording was dark and unclear.
Phra Pravet's 63-year-old mother, Nang Pow, expressed deep concern when she learned of the attack at 5:00 a.m. and rushed to the temple. She is grateful her son sustained only minor injuries and is urging police to quickly arrest both teenagers to prevent them from attacking other temples or residents. She suspects they are drug-addicted youth in the area.
