Ayutthaya: Four assailants attacked the home of a well-known businessman in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province and set fire to a bus parked inside. The incident occurred twice between July and August 2015. Police have now arrested two suspects, with two others still at large.
According to Thai News Agency, CCTV footage captured the incident where four assailants broke into a house in Pak Tha Subdistrict, Tha Ruea District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, before firing guns at the house, causing a loud explosion. The house was found to belong to Mr. Songkram, a 54-year-old local businessman. After the shooting, they used gasoline to set a bus parked inside the house's fence. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. The incident occurred on July 31, 2015.
After that, the same group of perpetrators returned again on August 14, 2015, this time using a grey Toyota Altis sedan and using a submachine gun to shoot at Mr. Songkram's house again. They also attempted to set fire to a passenger bus before fleeing. This time, no one was injured or killed.
Police brought in CCTV footage and called witnesses for questioning in order to expedite the pursuit of the perpetrators and bring them to justice. They identified the four perpetrators and requested arrest warrants: Mr. Noppakun, 36, who was driving the car (already arrested); Mr. Rakchat, 47, the leader of the group that fired at the house (still at large); Mr. Witun, 46, who set the car on fire (still at large); and Mr. Montree, 42, who was already arrested.
Along with the seizure of evidence, a black Toyota Altis sedan (with a fake license plate), a .45 mm Thompson submachine gun, the weapon used in the crime, bullet casings, a machine gun magazine, a gallon of gasoline, and a bottle of diesel fuel were recovered.
Pol. Col. Phumithat Khositwanichphong, Deputy Commander of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police, stated that based on the perpetrator's behavior and investigative data, he believes the motive may have stemmed from a personal conflict between the victim and the suspects. Police are expanding their investigation to track down two other suspects who are still at large, as well as other individuals involved.