SAMUT PRAKAN - A man believed to suffer from mental illness was arrested after three petrol bombs were thrown into Muang Samut Prakan police station on Thursday night.
The suspect was identified as Sutthinan Foongsaichon, 39.
He was apprehended by territorial defence volunteers on patrol outside city hall, opposite the station.
Mr Sutthinan allegedly threw three bottles filled with petrol and burning cloth wicks at the front entrance of the police station, causing a fire. On-duty police used a fire extinguisher to put it out.
Pol Capt Wirot Moonmanat, deputy inspector, said he heard a loud noise at the front of the station around 8.30pm. On inspection he found flames spreading through the entrance hall.
Territorial defence volunteer Rachanon Kongchaiya said he was part of a three-man patrol on duty outside city hall. They heard a loud noise and then saw a man setting light to bottles and throwing them at the station.
They caught the attacker as he collected his rucksack and prepared to flee the scene on a bicycle.
Provincial governor Chartchai Uthaitpun joined police in questioning Mr Sutthinan. He said that according to the suspect's mother, her son had suffered from mental illness since receiving a head injury in a car accident 10 years ago.
His condition worsened three years ago, when he started talking to himself.
Earlier that night, her son had bawled out that he heard voices telling him to attack the police station.
He then left the house in soi Puri, bought petrol from a nearby store and poured it into three empty bottles.
Mr Sutthinan was held in police custody and was to be taken to Police General Hospital for a mental health assessment.
