British family attacked in Hua Hin

HUA HIN Police have asked for help in identifying youths involved in a serious assault on a family of British tourists over the Songkran holiday 13 April.

A local online media channel broke the news, which was picked up by British media that has since given the brutal attack massive coverage in popular daily print and online media.

A report posted on Thai Visa.Com quotes the police saying they are seeking help from residents and visitors to identify the attackers and associates.

A video clip from one of the town’s CCTVs, in front of Wat Hua Hin, captures a serious argument between a British tourist family of three people – a mum, dad and their adult son – who were in the resort to celebrate Songkran 13 April.

The family encounters a group of youths and an argument develops into a serious assault. The three foreigners were unable to defend themselves against the pack attack and were grievously injured.

In the clip, the family can be seen getting into an argument with the attackers. A man appears to strike the foreign woman before others, presumably Thai men, start attacking the two other foreign men. All three foreigners were knocked to the pavement unconscious.

One of the attackers lands a brutal volley to the face of the woman as she tries to get up from the pavement in what is a truly shocking display of violence.

The entire incident played out in a popular resort, that attracts thousands of European tourists, is unprecedented. Hua Hia is considered a few notches up the security and safety scale when compared to Pattaya, or Phuket’s notorious Patong bay.

TTR Weekly has been reporting on tourism in the region and in Thailand since 1978 and has witnessed in recent years a decline in security and safety at tourist resorts that should raise serious concerns. A daily browse of Thai Visa.Com suggests there has been an alarming increase in crime against foreigners on the coattails of a tourism boom.

Hua Hin’s Police have appealed for help to find those responsible for the violence against the unnamed British family.

The incident occurred at 0200, on Soi Bintabaht,  a lane packed with late night bars and frequented by tourists. Just ahead of the incident, witnesses claimed the attackers boasted they would target the next group of western tourists who passed by.

The original source of the news was posted by Prajuab Newspaper, but in a further update on Thai Visa.Com said it believed six men had been were being questioned over the incident.

The Daily Mirror in the UK covered the story along with numerous other British news sites, featuring a report from a man who claimed to have witness the incident and came to the defence of the 65-year old female victim. He was subsequently attacked, according to his account posted on Hua Hin Forum under the name “usual suspect.”

The three victims were still in hospital and  one would require cosmetic dental work following the attack.

On his popular news website, Andrew Drummond, a well known investigative reporter  warned visitors to Thailand that “pack attacks are frequent, but are rarely reported in the international media.

“They often happen after a tourist queries and refuses to pay a bill and sometimes when tourists are inebriated and are unaware to avoid any sort of confrontation in the country.”

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “Our staff have been in contact with the family to offer assistance and will remain in contact with the local authorities.”

sourced:ttrweekly.com