Officers shoot van speeding through checkpoint, three injured

BANGKOK, 15 May 2010 (NNT) — Military officers last night opened fire at a speeding van in a bid to stop it from breaking through the checkpoint near Makkasan Airport Link station.

At 00.30 hrs, the Toyota Commuter van moved with high acceleration on Ratchaprarop Road heading towards Din Daeng Intersection and refused to stop at the military checkpoint near Makkasan Intersection after it was flagged down by the officers. The incident forced the security officers to fire bullets to puncture the tires; however, the van continued charging at the checkpoint. Both rubber bullets and live rounds were used, and the vehicle was successfully brought to a stop.

On the van, the military officers found a middle-aged man with alcohol stench, who was injured by a bullet on the right side of his body. The officers also found a large collection of knives and memorabilia of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Two passersby, a 10-year-boy and a taxi driver, were also hit by stray bullets. All three wounded were rushed to Phyathai 1 Hospital.