Western customer was stabbed to death in a convenience store in Thailand

According to local police, the victim collided with a 23-year-old Thai man inside the store, leading to an argument. This person is accused of pulling out a knife and stabbing the tourist’s right thigh. Witnesses said many people ran away in panic when they saw blood flowing from the wound.

The tourist collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Store staff provided first aid and stopped the bleeding for the victim, while some people helped control the young man and then handed him over to the police. The male tourist was taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for emergency treatment.

Police said the tourist discharged himself from the hospital the same day and returned to Pattaya’s bar district. Captain Jittisuk Suthinitatwong, who is in charge of the case, said authorities need to wait for the victim to recover to take testimony. According to him, at the time of the incident, the tourist did not want to report it because he was drunk and wanted to continue his vacation.

The investigation agency said the two sides had an argument before leading to a fight. The victim allegedly ran into the store to avoid conflict but was still chased and stabbed by the young man. The weapon seized at the scene was a knife about 12-15 cm long, determined to be owned by the attacker.

The young man admitted to stabbing someone. This person claimed that a tourist asked to buy drugs through a translation application on Google, leading to a conflict. However, the police said there was no basis to confirm the above statement, although a small amount of marijuana was discovered on the victim’s body. The young man is currently detained for further investigation.

Pattaya has long tried to build an image of a safe destination for families. However, this coastal city still faces high crime rates related to alcohol and nightlife entertainment services.

Security issues are also a focus of the Thai government after incidents involving foreign tourists in the border area last year. The “Trusted Thailand” certification system has been deployed synchronously for accommodation establishments, restaurants and amusement parks. The increased installation of surveillance cameras at hotels also shows Thailand’s efforts to assert itself as a safe, friendly and trustworthy destination.

In 2025, Thailand will welcome 32.9 million international visitors, down about 7.23% compared to 2024. The Thai government expects to attract about 36 million visitors this year, despite exchange rate barriers.