A homeless man in Bangkok has been arrested after allegedly attacking a woman with a box cutter in what police say was an unprovoked assault motivated by his dislike of overweight people.
The suspect, identified by Thai authorities as 30-year-old Etsana, was taken into custody following the incident, which occurred on a busy pavement in the Thai capital on June 27. He has since been charged with causing bodily harm.
According to local reports, the victim, a Vietnamese woman, was walking along a sidewalk at around 11:30am when she was suddenly attacked. The suspect allegedly used a 23cm-long box cutter to slash the woman before fleeing the scene.
Police Tracked Suspect Through CCTV Footage
Witnesses quickly alerted the authorities after the attack. A manager from a nearby convenience store reportedly contacted police, who arrived at the scene and arranged medical assistance for the injured woman.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment before later assisting investigators with the case. She subsequently visited a local police station, where she helped officers identify the alleged attacker.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from cameras in the surrounding area and were able to trace the suspect’s movements. Officers later located and arrested Etsana, recovering the box cutter believed to have been used during the attack.
Suspect Allegedly Admitted Motive
During questioning, the suspect allegedly confessed to carrying out the attack and offered a disturbing explanation for his actions.
Thai media reports stated that Etsana told investigators he disliked overweight people and became angry after seeing the woman walk past him. He allegedly claimed that her appearance triggered his frustration, leading him to attack her.
In an even more bizarre statement, the suspect reportedly said he wanted to be “the only one” who was overweight and did not want others to share the same physical characteristic. Reports indicated that the man himself weighed approximately 120kg at the time of his arrest.
Residents Raise Concerns About Previous Incidents
The case has sparked concern among local residents, some of whom reportedly told authorities that the suspect had previously harassed or attacked other overweight women in the area.
Police are expected to continue their investigation to determine whether the suspect may have been involved in additional incidents that were never formally reported.
The attack has drawn widespread attention online, with many expressing shock at the alleged motive behind the assault. Authorities have urged members of the public to report suspicious behaviour and cooperate with investigations as they work to establish whether there are other potential victims linked to the suspect.