Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets at A "Car Mob" Near The Residence of Thailand PM to disperse the crowd.

 

Thai protesters clash with police for the fourth time this week

Bernama

Ogos 15, 2021 23:23 MYT

A 'car mob' made up of protesters on cars and motorcycles took to the streets in Bangkok today for the fourth time this week, and once again ended up clashing with the police at Din Daeng Intersection. - REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

BANGKOK: A 'car mob' made up of protesters on cars and motorcycles took to the streets in the capital today for the fourth time this week, and once again ended up clashing with the police at Din Daeng Intersection.

The convoy gathered at Democracy Monument and Ratchaprasong Intersection and passed through Bangkok peacefully, like what the organisers wanted. They honked their way through the capital and raised three-finger salute along the way.

The convoy returned to their gathering point and started honking when the national anthem was played at 6 pm (local time) and headed home after that.

However, a separate group of 'car mob' convoy turned into Din Daeng intersection, near the residence of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha, the same venue where protesters and police clashed three times earlier this week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

The protesters started to throw firecrackers and ping pong bombs as well as firing slingshots at barricade that block the route to the residence of Prayuth at Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

A veteran political activist Nattawut Saikuar who led the "car mob" today rushed to Din Daeng Intersection and pleaded with the protesters to head home and avoid confrontations with police.

However, many refused to leave the protest site as police continue to fired tear gas and rubber bullets to force back protesters. The protesters once again set fire on a police post at Din Daeng Intersection.

As of 8 pm (local time), the clashes between protesters and police continued.

Today's car mob in Bangkok is mobilised by Nattawut and Sombat Boonngam-anong as well as the Tha Lu Fah group.

Earlier, Nattawut promised a peaceful protest today as the groups avoided sensitive areas such as the residence of Prayuth at the 1st Infantry Regiment headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road as well as the Government House to avoid confrontation.

The protestors are continuing with their demands that Prayuth should step down for the government's poor handling of the COVID-19 situation and slow vaccine roll-out.

Meanwhile, over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 21,882 new COVID-19 cases and 209 fatalities bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 907,157 and 7,552 deaths to date.

The fatalities involved 117 men and 92 women aged between 19 and 95 years old, including six foreigners.

Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest outbreak, topped the list with the highest number of cases at 4,215 new cases and 83 fatalities.

-- BERNAMA