French man shot after knife attack on Bangkok police

A 34-year-old French national was shot and detained after allegedly threatening people with a knife and injuring a Bangkok police officer in Soi Phatthanakan 43 on July 24.

Police said two Taser shots failed to stop the man, identified by authorities only as Adam, who continued to advance on officers with a knife at close range. Officers then fired three rounds, hitting him in both thighs and the abdomen.

The incident occurred outside a guesthouse in Suan Luang district after Khlong Tan police received reports of a foreign man threatening members of the public, asking for money and damaging property.

Taser deployment did not stop knife advance

Pol Lt Col Tharet Wongwaranurak, deputy superintendent for prevention and suppression at Khlong Tan Police Station, ordered Pol Lt Col Sarayut Am Sathan, the station's prevention and suppression inspector, to lead officers to the scene.

Police said the man had initially gone into his accommodation after the reported disturbance. When officers identified themselves and ordered him to put down the knife, he allegedly refused and ran towards them holding the weapon.

Officers used a Taser twice, but it did not stop him, police said. As he approached at close range, leaving officers unable to avoid him, they fired three shots to stop the threat and were then able to take him into custody.

During the arrest, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Jaruj Yaemsaruan, an officer attached to Khlong Tan Police Station's prevention and suppression unit, was slashed on the right calf. He was taken to Vibhavadi Hospital for treatment.

The suspect was given initial first aid before being taken to the Police General Hospital.

Residents describe a week of concerns

A local resident identified as Nang Jaew told police that the Frenchman had moved into the apartment building about a week earlier. She said a Thai woman he had previously been in a relationship with brought him there before leaving him on his own.

She said he had regularly walked around the building taking mobile-phone photographs of almost every area, causing other residents to become uneasy.

According to her account, on the night before the incident he had gone to the entrance of the soi carrying a knife and argued with another foreigner. Police attended and calmed that incident.

At about midnight, she said, he also argued with another foreign man and nearly became involved in a fight before this larger disturbance the following day.

Police are investigating the cause of the suspect’s behaviour. They said he would be held for legal proceedings once he had recovered sufficiently to provide a statement.

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

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25 July 2026