Phuket's police chief says several people involved in the riot at Thalang police station on Saturday had fled the tourist island as an investigation is wrapped up with plans to ask a court this week to issue arrest warrants for nine teenagers in the first group of wanted suspects.
Pol Maj Gen Phachara Bunyasit urged the rioters in Saturday’s violence to surrender to police.
He said on Wednesday most of those in the first batch of suspects being sought were local teenagers, and police would be able to locate them easily. Their cases had statutes of limitations that range from 10 to 20 years. Some in the group were reportedly still preparing to leave Phuket to evade arrest while others had already left.
Pol Maj Gen Phachara said police would hunt down and arrest every suspect once the warrants were issued. He said investigators had been able to identify several more people involved but would need more time to give the exact number of rioters.