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Foreign Tourists Arrested for Spraying Police With Water in Patong

Police in Patong, Phuket, arrested a group of foreign tourists after they used water guns to spray officers on duty during Songkran celebrations, an act seen as going beyond festive behaviour and posing a risk of injury.

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The incident came to light on 14 April 2026 after videos circulated widely on social media. The footage showed officers from Patong Police Station attempting to carry out their duties at a coordination tent in Patong municipality when they were targeted by dozens of tourists on 13 April 2026.

In the first clips, a large group of foreign tourists are seen repeatedly firing high-pressure water guns at police officers stationed at the Songkran festival site. Officers are forced to run for cover to avoid potential harm.

A second clip, filmed from inside a vehicle, captures another angle of the same group surrounding and spraying the officers. The intensity and coordinated nature of the water spraying suggested deliberate targeting rather than typical festival play.

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Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

A third clip shows police officers pursuing and arresting those involved. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody at Patong Police Station for legal proceedings.

Authorities indicated the actions exceeded acceptable Songkran conduct and could have caused injury to officers performing official duties. The behaviour was described as intentional and disruptive, particularly given the number of individuals involved.

The incident has raised concerns about maintaining safety and order during large-scale festival events, especially in major tourist destinations like Patong. ThaiRath reported that police are expected to proceed with legal action against those detained, while continuing to monitor festival activities to ensure public safety throughout the remaining Songkran period.

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 15 Apr 2026

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khunPer Diamond Member

khunPer

Advanced Member

Common sense is that you don't splash water at officials on duty, if they are not part of the fun-game. And leave splashing water on police officers to the Thais, the knows better what is acceptable and when – just enjoy watching when such stuff happens; it's with mutual accept and smiles. The police officer at right gave me a thumb-up and allowed me to snap his photo...👍🙂

23e2008skd_881+875+837police.jpg

Kung69 Explorer Member

Kung69

Member

I had a great day in Khao Lak "playing water", friendly fun atmosphere with Thais, ex pats and tourists. One family went a little too far, were firmly closed down and we had a brilliant day, in line with Thai culture. Respect and a smile are all that are needed to get the best out of Thailand.

ronster Gold Member

ronster

Advanced Member

Amount of videos I seen today with gangs of french Arabs causing trouble over songkran is crazy and when I say gangs I don't mean about 10 people , I mean 40 plus .

The video of them opening the mini van doors and soaking the inside is totally out of order. Pity they weren't shot while doing it .

JJ-Thailand Silver Member

JJ-Thailand

Advanced Member

Send the idiots back to wherever they come from after spending a few weeks in a Thai jail.

NorthernRyland Ruby Member

NorthernRyland

Advanced Member
44 minutes ago, connda said:

They pick the one black guy in the crowd of white morons. That's going to get universally condemned in the West

Oh no, anything but that!

Screenshot 2026-04-15 at 10.04.11 AM.png

roo860 Star Member

roo860

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, LennyW said:

Same mob that attacked the van driver, soaked him and the inside of his van repeatedly, extremely lucky that they were not shot!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HR2wX8Dig/

Would have been a good idea to lock all the doors, and not get out 🙄

CallumWK Diamond Member

CallumWK

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Artisi said:

What load of 🐂💩

No it's not. In the promo ads of Songkran there are many pictures and videos of the police taking part in the water fights.

TedG Ruby Member

TedG

Advanced Member
34 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Common sense is that you don't splash water at officials on duty, if they are not part of the fun-game. And leave splashing water on police officers to the Thais, the knows better what is acceptable and when – just enjoy watching when such stuff happens; it's with mutual accept and smiles. The police officer at right gave me a thumb-up and allowed me to snap his photo...👍🙂

23e2008skd_881+875+837police.jpg

Yep

0Q2A0163.jpg

ChockyTheCat Apprentice Member

ChockyTheCat

Member

No matter where you come from or how ill educated you are or how stupid you are, everybody knows you don’t taunt the police especially in a country that’s not your own, they were asking for trouble and they got it !

Aussie999 Platinum Member

Aussie999

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

These foreigners are complete GOONS.

How can they be so unaware of the local culture?

I think each of these fools should be waterboarded, every day for a week, and then banned from Thailand for life.

Personally, I would like to know the difference to what I have seen thais doing, to the police, spraying the cops, with water, pasting coloured paste all over the cops face, etc...in this case, a warning...hey, here's a novel idea, signs at the police site, Do NOT Throw water, in this area....or face fines and/or arrest.

LennyW Ruby Member

LennyW

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Where is the vid, please?

Is there a link?

It is on the Phuket Times facebook page, as are some of the arrests now.

daveAustin Diamond Member

daveAustin

Advanced Member

If you want to include cops at Songran, ask them first, then take a cup and gently pour water over their hands. Don’t go shoving something that looks like a gun and spray water in their face! For wont of invoking the expletive censor again… some people are such a-holes! They will ruin it for all because the event will end up being muted.

CallumWK Diamond Member

CallumWK

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

They will ruin it for all because the event will end up being muted.

Most people's hope is that one day the event will be muted

praguecr Explorer Member

praguecr

Member
5 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Very bad image the Thai police are giving of thailand and thai police are sending the message that foreigners are not safe from police racketing.

Ridiculous comment. Police have a job to do and there is a limit to all festivities

praguecr Explorer Member

praguecr

Member
48 minutes ago, ChockyTheCat said:

No matter where you come from or how ill educated you are or how stupid you are, everybody knows you don’t taunt the police especially in a country that’s not your own, they were asking for trouble and they got it !

totally agree!

praguecr Explorer Member

praguecr

Member

Total immature morons. If you are stupid enough to ridicule a police officer you deserve what os coming to you. It should be renamed "Ambush Day".

Peterphuket Platinum Member

Peterphuket

Advanced Member

I’m so glad I don’t live there anymore.

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

tourists should behave, but the RTP should also not be so xenophobic

There was no suggestion whatsoever of xenophobia and if the moronic tourists had behaved sensibly there would have been no problem.

boloaf Senior Member

boloaf

Member
3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Total <deleted>. Foreigners are the biggest a holes at Songkran. There are rules… don’t spray cops or normies going about their business and don’t be a <deleted>!

These ain't normal farang. these are the types who cause serious problems wherever they go on the planet.

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The charges for tourists are a bit ridiculous, it wasbonly water

Nonsense, it was an orchestrated assault.

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

No it's not. In the promo ads of Songkran there are many pictures and videos of the police taking part in the water fights.

Nonsense, there are no pictures or videos of the police taking part in water fights such as the attacks on them as shown in this thread.

GammaGlobulin Star Member

GammaGlobulin

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Kandinski said:

If water from those guns will harm police they will harm anyone, right?

What is the "force of ejected" water, IN NEWTONS, please.

I need to know.

GammaGlobulin Star Member

GammaGlobulin

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, LennyW said:

It is on the Phuket Times facebook page, as are some of the arrests now.

Do you mean this one?

image.png

What's his name?

Nick Baboon?

Or...this one?

image.png

I will not say that these guys have "different juices"...but I WILL say that they have been immersed in a different culture, all of their lives.

I do not like that culture.

I have preferences about what cultures I value and which cultures I detest.

I am NOT saying they have different juices, of course.

Maxbkkcm Senior Member

Maxbkkcm

Member

Typical French Europeans behaviours.

GammaGlobulin Star Member

GammaGlobulin

Advanced Member

For some strange reason:

a. The guys who were arrested seem to believe that Songkran Festival is one which celebrates AGGRESSION and VIOLENCE.

b. Anyone this misinformed should be banned from Thailand, for life, with or without a preliminary waterboarding.

c. They just do not, AND NEVER WILL, be able to become part of Thai society, even temporarily.

d. There is ZERO BENEFIT for Thailand to having these specimens arrive on cheap air flights from their origins, which is probably Africa.

e. Let them remain in Africa, and enjoy their own cultures (Africa is not a continent of only one culture), to the max.

f. The population of Africa is increasing fast. There will soon be intense pressure to escape the broiling continent. This is happening now...so...enjoy our world while we still can.

PETERTHEEATER Star Member

PETERTHEEATER

Advanced Member
14 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

673638949_1567575788710595_970609669273059984_n.jpg

The difference here is that the police are using low-pressure water guns. 😋

Nick Carter icp Star Member

Nick Carter icp

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, CallumWK said:

No it's not. In the promo ads of Songkran there are many pictures and videos of the police taking part in the water fights.

You gotta learn which Police/people are participating and who isn't .

GammaGlobulin Star Member

GammaGlobulin

Advanced Member
10 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The difference here is that the police are using low-pressure water guns. 😋

What is the difference between water guns used for play, such as children might use, and high-pressure water guns used for competition, which can be dangerous?

image.png

image.png

This strays FAR TOO FAR from the original meaning of splashing water, which symbolized a BLESSING bestowed.

Instead, these guys from Africa/France, wherever, need to be locked up for assault and battery.

Foreigners, IMHO, should be totally banned from participating in the Songkran Festival water blessing ritual.

Maybe they can attend lectures discussing various interesting facets of Thai culture, such as dance, etc.

image.png

45 PSI water pressure.....???

SUCH A BLESSING????

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Most people's hope is that one day the event will be muted

No, not most people, Just a handful of rather vocal killjoys and the perpetual wingers, that make up a tiny percentage of every society,

This miserable attitude seems to be directly related to age although thankfully not all are infected

I'm not a fan of waterfights and I certainly won't be joining in , but I don't begrudge those who do enjoy it their couple of days of childish fun .

giants49 Explorer Member

giants49

Member

Memo to stupid tourists. Don't splash cops with water, lol. There's lots of people to splash. Why cops? Did these morons really think it would end well?

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