A 26-year-old Russian man with a mental disorder has been arrested and is in hospital custody after invading the Phuket provincial governor’s office building.
Thai police have detained and taken a 26-year-old Russian man with a mental disorder to hospital, where the man is in protective custody. The Russian man broke into the Phuket administration building at night and smashed the glass door to the office of the governor of the resort island with a fire axe. The Russian man then tried to escape from the security guards of the administration building, Phuket News reported.
Security personnel of the Phuket branch of the Voluntary Defence Force said they heard an alarm near the lift on the ground floor at 2:45. Upon inspecting the premises; the guards found a shirtless foreigner wearing black shorts who attempted to evade capture.
One of the guards grabbed the man’s arm, but the Russian managed to break free and escape into the administration building. Police were immediately alerted to the incident via the 191 emergency response centre. However, the incident took a dramatic turn when the sound of breaking glass was heard from the governor’s office on the fourth floor at 4.30 am.
Security personnel arriving at the scene discovered a broken glass door and bloodstains. Under the desk of the governor’s secretary lay a steel fire axe, which is used in emergencies. Officials quickly documented the scene and gathered evidence for a thorough investigation.
Later, the same Russian man was found and detained while attempting to steal a passenger car parked outside a nearby shop. The shirtless foreigner was visibly traumatised: his legs were bleeding from cuts caused by glass.
The man was promptly taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital, where it was confirmed that the Russian was registered with a psychiatrist. The man’s identity is not being released due to his unconscious state,” the incident report from the Phuket office of the Department of Public Relations said.
CCTV footage showed the Russian man moving chaotically between government buildings before reaching the Phuket provincial administration building. Police suspect the man may have been experiencing a psychotic episode or under the influence of drugs at the time of the invasion.
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat spoke out about the incident, expressing concern for the man’s mental health. The governor also emphasised the need to increase security not only at the administration building but also at various government buildings across the island.
Legal action will be taken against the Russian man for at least trespassing on state territory, the incident report confirmed.
Authorities are awaiting the man’s return to normal condition for further questioning, citing the need for a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident. It is noted that after the investigation and subsequent trial, the man may face deportation.
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