Foreign Tourists Arrested for Spraying Police With Water in Patong

Concerning Water Pressure, maybe one should put this into clearer perspective:

a. Here where I am, even though I do have a new water pump, my house suffers lower-than optimal water pressure.

b. Being an American, when living in my home country, I enjoyed optimal water pressure, which is required to operate home appliances.

c. How much pressure do I like?

d. While growing up in the USA, I was used to getting about 60 PSI.

e. When I was young, and at the age when we enjoyed water fights outside our home, we could use a "gun attachment" to a hose. And the water pressure from the city to our house was enough to send a jet of water well over 35 meters.

We could even shoot a jet over the roof of the house, which seemed like much fun to our juvenile minds.

f. Any toy water gun, even the Super Soaker 2000 has only about 45 PSI pressure. So, I really do not see how such a puny sprayer can cause any physical damage, since when we were kids, we would not be satisfied with 60 PSI, and at a much higher flow rate using a far superior gun attachment....such as....

So, as I often say:

Nothing makes sense to me about Water-Fights during Songkran Festival time....

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The charges for tourists are a bit ridiculous, it wasbonly water, but the tourists should be fined with a huge fine.

They will need be charged with something before being fined , and if you want them to be given a "huge" fine then they will need to be charged with something quite serious

Just saying, but there is a reason we go shopping before Songkran and have a nice quite holiday at home without any water being tossed anywhere. About the only water tossing in watering the garden.

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The tourists should behave, but the RTP should also not be so xenophobic. It is always a 2 sided situation. The charges for tourists are a bit ridiculous, it wasbonly water, but the tourists should be fined with a huge fine. However Songkran is too long. This year even 5/6 days and you can expect problems

It's not 5/6 days in Southern Thailand, most places down south it's only one day.

9 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.

Another comment that makes me wonder if the poster has been to a Songkran "celebration" recently.

9 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The tourists should behave, but the RTP should also not be so xenophobic. It is always a 2 sided situation. The charges for tourists are a bit ridiculous, it wasbonly water, but the tourists should be fined with a huge fine. However Songkran is too long. This year even 5/6 days and you can expect problems

Imagine what would happen if you squirted ... oh let's say the NYPD or LAPD with those air pump pressure sure soakers.

I don't think you would like their response.

People seem to think the RTP should just laugh it off.

5 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.

Did you actually read what I was commenting on, it appears you didn't.

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

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

I need to know.

Donno Newton but [nozzle] pressure on a slightly modified Xplash 4000Z Magnum is recorded to 7835 Kpa @ 20°C😋

5 hours ago, praguecr said:

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

and just what are those limits...are these "limits" for everyone, or only for foreigners.

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Imagine what would happen if you squirted ... oh let's say the NYPD or LAPD with those air pump pressure sure soakers.

I don't think you would like their response.

People seem to think the RTP should just laugh it off.

Do you live in Thailand, how many Songkrans have you been to....

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Imagine what would happen if you squirted ... oh let's say the NYPD or LAPD with those air pump pressure sure soakers.

I don't think you would like their response.

People seem to think the RTP should just laugh it off.

There’s no point comparing squirting water at a Thai cop during Songkran with squirting a cop in USA.

In Thailand during Songkran there is a different context. Other times of year in Thailand would get you in trouble and in USA anything could happen, up to and including getting shot.

These idiots carried things too far, the police took exception, as is their right, and those caught will get fined. End of story

30 minutes ago, Kandinski said:

Donno Newton but [nozzle] pressure on a slightly modified Xplash 4000Z Magnum is recorded to 7835 Kpa @ 20°C😋

It is traditionally accepted to have everything concerning force all tied to Newtons.

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

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.

Get today's headlines by email

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.

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.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 15 Apr 2026

View full article

Interesting how they picked on the first available black dude 😂

12 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The tourists should behave, but the RTP should also not be so xenophobic. It is always a 2 sided situation. The charges for tourists are a bit ridiculous, it wasbonly water, but the tourists should be fined with a huge fine. However Songkran is too long. This year even 5/6 days and you can expect problems

RTP should not be xenophobic?

Cops on duty to be water pistoled by some idiots?

However Songkran is too long?

Should have stayed at home.

i'm no fan of songkran, however, this is particularly worrying behaviour and mentality, at some point the authorities need to get a serious grip on the songkran celebrations or there will be real problems down the road. i'm so happy staying well away from it.

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

It is traditionally accepted to have everything concerning force all tied to Newtons.

Not on my side of the barrel.

13 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.

13 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.

13 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.

There's no mention of racketeering in the situation / events reported.

Why did the word racketeering suddenlt appear in the reporting of the event?

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Do you live in Thailand, how many Songkrans have you been to?

Yes I do, was on Sukhumvit Soi 8 and Soi 4 last night.

What, if anything, is your point?

If you live in Hua Hin is that significant as to your opinion?

Is Songkran different there?

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

There’s no point comparing squirting water at a Thai cop during Songkran with squirting a cop in USA.

In Thailand during Songkran there is a different context. Other times of year in Thailand would get you in trouble and in USA anything could happen, up to and including getting shot.

These idiots carried things too far, the police took exception, as is their right, and those caught will get fined. End of story

Pontificating as you do, I hope I may be excused if I address you as Your Holiness.

Thank you for your infallible wisdom Your Holiness.

Many of us on AN have only our questions and our opinions to share.

10 hours 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. But the selection of "perps" to take down is not surprising in the least.

You can't help being racist <deleted> can you

My first Songkran was 25 years ago on Koh Samui. One of the best nights out of my life. The atmosphere was electric, everyone was so happy and having fun 'playing water'. It was mostly small buckets, with maybe the odd low power water gun.

It's evolved into bunches of overgrown man-children with powerfull water guns, thinking they're in a war zone. Makes my blood boil.

They're ruining what's supposed to be a special time of year for Thai people.

What a zoo. I can't think o any other term to describe that entire scene except a zoo. Different species of every degenerate in their blooming glory.

I did like the knee to the neck though. Very George Floyd 2020'esque. I bet if this was in an alley we may have seen those clubs accidentally slip. Which I would take no issue with.

What an absolute abomination the attendance of this festival has become.

Thai cops are too soft and friendly.

Our brother, son, and friend Bouboune has had his travel plans involuntarily delayed whilst on a study trip with his book club to Southeast Asia. He is kind (well, mostly), considerate (to be fair, sometimes more, sometimes...not so much), pious (uhm, once in a while, maybe; although right now is one of those times) and fun-loving (which takes us to recent events)..

If you can find it in your heart, please consider donating to this GoFund.me setup in his benefit. The funds you kindly provide will not go to drugs, alcohol, working ladies (or boys), nor motorcycle insurance (we can guarantee the last one). Thank YOU!!!

13 hours ago, ronster said:

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 .

And how do you know they were ...French Arabs ?

Didn't look arabic to me , might of been Israeli ?.

17 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.

Oh don't be prejudice against Thai police , there's no need for it !!

11 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

And how do you know they were ...French Arabs ?

Didn't look arabic to me , might of been Israeli ?.

Because of the fact they got arrested and were shouting in french but didn't look like your average french born citizen ! 🙄🤯

4 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Pontificating as you do, I hope I may be excused if I address you as Your Holiness.

Thank you for your infallible wisdom Your Holiness.

Many of us on AN have only our questions and our opinions to share.

I have no idea what you are talking about. As one of the “many of us on AN”, I share my opinions. Why is that a problem from you?

How does this year compare to previous years? It seems a lot worse to me but that could just be recency bias.

Good for you, what a POS, happy to see that face smashing the road!

Arrest them but before, make sure to bash their faces.