Bangkok's 'acid' attacker arrested and charged
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A suspected serial chemical attacker has admitted sprinkling a mixture of bathroom cleaners on other people on 30 occasions in Bangkok over the past two months, acting city police chief Pol Maj Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang told a press conference Monday.
Affirming the attacks were the work of a single individual, he said Yanhee International Hospital would treat free of charge the chemical burns of all victims until their condition returned to normal.
The tricycleriding scavenger Rachan Theerakitnukul, 50, incoherently said that he was high on drugs and wanted to take a revenge on those who looked down on him for parking his vehicle in others’ way and extorting foreigners.
Five victims were present at the conference and identified Rachan as their attacker. Rachan also apologised to them.
Kamronwit said Rachan confessed to 30 attacks at locations including Lumpini, Pratunam (eight times), Saphan Kwai (10 times), Sutthisan, Phaholyothin, Victory Monument (four times), Lat Phrao (five times) and Bang Sue. He said he had taken drugs on each occasion. His victims recognised Rachan's tricycle, which had two large headlights.
Kamronwit said Rachan, who was arrested in Bang Sue for taking yaba in 2004 and had no history of mental health problems, confessed he had attacked his victims this because he was angry for being scolded and looked down upon.
Police have so far identified six of his victim: British woman, four Thai women and one Thai man.
Police charged Rachan with assault and causing harms to their physical and mental health.
Rachan was arrested on Sunday at Soi Inthamara 59 while the search of his rented room also yielded drugtaking paraphernalia.
Rachan reportedly told police that, when he sorted through garbage and found toilet cleaner bottles, he would put the leftover liquid in a small bottle to sprinkle at others to vent his anger.
