Pattaya –
The Pattaya City Police stopped chaos between Middle Eastern foreigners, most reportedly from Kuwait, and young Thai men, many reportedly Bolt motorbike taxi app riders, in the Pattaya area on Saturday (August 3rd).
Captain Pansan Krongsit was notified of the incident at 5:00 A.M. in Soi Yen Sabai in Nongprue. They and the Pattaya News arrived at the scene finding signs of a conflict such as broken glass on the ground.
Local residents and witnesses told Pattaya police that over a dozen young Thai motorbike riders were arguing and fighting with dozens of young middle eastern men, mostly Kuwaiti nationals. Rocks were thrown by those involved in the conflict that caused damage to nearby businesses.
It is unclear, however, what sparked the dispute but tensions have been high in this area for weeks with police conducting almost daily crackdowns on mostly Kuwaiti students on school leave who have angered local residents for allegedly disrespecting locals and racing motorbikes around without proper licenses, registration, or documentation.
Several Kuwaiti nationals were reportedly injured in the conflict and CCTV footage shows dozens of foreign tourists, again mostly seemingly Kuwaiti students, running and hiding in nearby shops as packs of angry young Thai men threw rocks and shouted at them.
Police advised business owners and injured individuals to file official reports to police so that they could conduct a formal investigation. Meanwhile, police are checking CCTV footage to track down both Thai and foreign law breakers.
Complaints have continued to pour in on a daily basis about Middle Eastern tourists on Soi Yensabai allegedly disrupting the peace and quiet of the area and angering local residents which continue to increase tension between different groups.
