6 teens hurt in acid attack
April 14, 2005 Edition 1
Six Thai teenagers have suffered major facial and body burns after being sprayed with diluted hydrochloric acid at a public park during the Songkran water festival in southern Thailand, police say.
Two Muslim teenage suspects were held in Pattani town near the Malaysian border last night after they were identified by witnesses as having fired toy guns containing the diluted acid on festival celebrants in the park, police said.
The two denied committing the act, which police suspected might have been linked to sustained bloody violence in three southern Thai provinces in the past 15 months during which about 600 people have died.
Police said the suspects would face a charge of physical assault with intent to harm.
Among the six injured was a boy hospitalised with serious eye burns.
Songkran is a regional annual New Year water festival celebrated widely in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. - Reuters
