Two victims remain in hospital intensive care units
Families of the two Malaysian tourists set on fire in a random attack on Thursday night Arrived in Bangkok on Saturday. (Photo: Tourism and Sports Ministry Facebook account)
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has promised improved safety measures in areas popular with tourists after two Malaysians were set on fire in a random attack by an unemployed man in downtown Bangkok.
The ministry made the commitment in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Saturday. The statement said improved safety measures in tourist areas would bolster the confidence of visitors and local residents alike.
Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuak-um, the tourist police chief, echoed the ministry’s promise.
Security measures in key tourist areas would be strengthened to boost the confidence of international visitors, he said in a message posted on the tourist police Facebook platform.
The promises follow the shocking attack on One Yik Leong, 26, and his girlfriend Gan Xiao Zhen, 27. They were allegedly burnt by Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, on Thursday night. He threw thinner over them from a bottle and then chased and set them both on fire.
They were seriously injured and rushed to separate hospitals.
The attacker was caught and held by other people at the scene and handed over to Lumpini police when they arrived.
The couple were attacked while sitting on the stairs of the Big C retail store on Ratchadamri Road in downtown Bangkok – one of the city’s most popular shopping areas.
The suspect, a native of Sa Kaeo province and a retired boxer, allegedly told police he acted out of frustration over being unemployed.
Yik Leong suffered second-degree burns to the upper part of his body and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Police General Hospital, where his condition was reported as “stable”, Bernama news agency reported, citing Bong Yik Jui, acting charge d’affaires at the Malaysian embassy.
Xiao Zhen suffered second-degree burns over 36% of her face, chest and an arm and was admitted to the ICU at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, according to Malaysian state media.
