Police are under fire after being accused of attacking a volunteer medic during a pro-democracy protest on Saturday night that ended with eight demonstrators detained and 20 wounded.
Police, however, said the person was not a professional medical staff member but a volunteer for a group that provided first aid -- and was allegedly among the people who instigated the incident.
A video clip widely circulated online showed officers in full riot gear chasing a man with at least one beating him as he fell to the ground.
More clips showed another man wearing what appeared to be a green volunteer medic's vest surrounded by police leading to the hashtag #policebeatingmedic trending on Thai language Twitter.
Police fired gunshots into the sky to keep order as protesters "did not cooperate," according to the police.
The protest calling for the release of the four leaders of the People's Movement started at the Democracy Monument before activists marched to the City Pillar Shrine near Sanam Luang.
The city police chief denied that tear gas was fired by police, although tear gas cans were found at the scene.
The People's Movement on Sunday reiterated its peaceful stance but said protesters had a right to retaliate against violence by authorities.
