Late-Night Scare as Suspicious Suitcase Found Near Refugee Shelter in Sa Kaeo

Picture courtesy of SiamNews

A village in Sa Kaeo Province was thrown into panic on the night of 30 July when a suspicious suitcase was discovered in a rubbish bin near a temporary refugee shelter, prompting fears of explosives.

The incident occurred at approximately 21:00, in Moo 5, Ban Kaeng Subdistrict, Mueang Sa Kaeo District. A local resident alerted police after spotting an abandoned suitcase in a public bin close to a residential area, sparking immediate concern due to its proximity to the refugee centre.

Officers from Khao Singto Police Station swiftly responded and coordinated with Pol. Col. Thaworn Dulyawit, Chief of Sa Kaeo Provincial Police and the provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. Authorities cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby residents within a 100-metre safety radius as a precaution.

EOD officers took over 30 minutes to carefully assess the situation using specialised equipment. Tension ran high in the community as the investigation proceeded under the assumption that the suitcase could contain a bomb.

Upon opening and inspection, the suitcase was found to contain only personal belongings, including clothing, a small tent, children’s school shoes, women’s footwear and other donated items. Officials believe the items may have belonged to someone residing at the nearby temporary shelter who later disposed of them, unintentionally causing public alarm.

Despite the harmless contents, police are reviewing CCTV footage from Soi Wat Trinimitr in Ban Kaeng Subdistrict to identify who left the suitcase, especially given heightened sensitivities in the area due to current tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-08-01