Police last night denied that they used live bullets against anti-government protesters after one of them was shot and ended up in critical condition.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau issued a statement saying that its officers used only rubber bullets to control the protesters. In one video from Thursday, a police officer was seen lurking around the Din Daeng Police Station before firing in the direction of protesters.
One of the victims, whose has not yet been identified, was shot in the back of the neck and later taken to Rajavithi Hospital. Rumors about the man’s death were rife last night before the hospital director, Somkiat Lalitwongsa, quashed said he had no died but was in critical condition.
#PoliceKillPeople has become a trending hashtag online since last night with people calling on the police to be held accountable. Human rights activists cited United Nations guidelines specifying that less-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets should not be used to target the head, face or neck.
Col. Ratthachai Sriwichai, chief of Din Daeng police, said his team would investigate the shooting.
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