Daily News Rayong office attacked
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An unknown number of gunmen in a pickup attacked the Daily News newspaper's Rayong office early this morning but no one was injured.
The office on Sukhumvit Road in Mueang Rayong was ridden with bullet holes. Office furniture, air conditioning and neon tubes were damaged as well as a Nissan pickup truck parked in front of the office.
The vehicle belonged to Krittapas Taengphetch, 49, a reporter who was in the office when the attack happened. He alerted police.
Found at the scene were 16 spent AKA rifle bullets, a 9mm bullet and two 9mm spent cartridges. Police are checking security camera footage from the surrounding area in an attempt to identify the culprits.
A police source revealed that the security video camera captured a golden-bronze single-cab Isuzu DMax pickup truck passing the office and a passenger in the front left seat rolling down the window and aiming a rifle at the office.
Daily News reporters suspect this attack is related to recent news coverage about a major Yaba gang in Klaeng district, which is reportedly linked to Rayong Provincial Prison inmates. The gang allegedly used war weapons to avenge another drug gang who had failed to pay them, resulting in death and injuries. The case’s suspects were on bail and might be disgruntled about the news reports.
An eyewitness, noodle vendor Khajornsak Chaisri, told police that he had seen the golden-bronze pickup truck with a driver and a passenger in the front seat. The passenger opened fire at the office before the truck sped towards Tambon Tapong.
