Thailand: Shotgun shooting at tourists on Koh Phangan

A Thai man armed with a shotgun attacked tourists and a shot was fired on Koh Phangan in southern Thailand.

A 49-year-old tattoo shop owner has been arrested following a dangerous shooting incident during New Year's Eve countdown celebrations on Koh Phangan island in Surat Thani province.

The island is known worldwide for its full moon festivals .

The incident, filmed and widely shared on social media, occurred on January 1 at 2:56 a.m. outside a massage parlor in Krung Thai Alley in Ban Thong Sala.

Photo taken from a surveillance camera showing the armed man threatening the tourist with his shotgun.

Security footage shows the suspect, identified as Denchai, from Phatthalung province, threatening foreign tourists with a long-barreled shotgun.

You can watch the video on the Khaosod English website, the source of the article.

The angry man is apparently trying to force the seated tourist to leave, as he doesn't understand what's going on.

Then a man tries to take the gun out of his hands, which triggers a gunshot.

The bullet narrowly missed the tourist's head and hit the concrete wall of the neighboring massage shop.

After the armed man leaves, the tourist sits back down, but the Thai man returns, this time with another man who speaks English and explains that he has to leave.

Photo of the incident taken from a surveillance camera.

The suspect continued to threaten tourists and walk down the street with the weapon without anyone else intervening.

Police then arrested Denchai and seized a black Remington M887 Nitromag shotgun and 18 12-gauge cartridges from his home.

The case is being investigated at Koh Phangan Police Station.

See also:

Thailand: What we know about the Bangkok hotel fire that killed 3 tourists

Bloody weekend in Thailand: 2 tourists stabbed, one dead

Thailand: Foreign tourist causes chaos with fireworks in Pattaya

Thais shocked by lawless tourists in Phuket