National police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk said he has instructed law enforcement officers in Bangkok to reassess the way they police anti-government protests after police property was targeted in a recent demonstration.
The order comes after six traffic police booths were torched late on Wednesday night following a now daily anti-government protest in the Din Daeng area.
Pol Gen Suwat said he has ordered police to reassess the protest movement, make tactical operation adjustments and consider filing illegal assembly and illegal organisation charges if there is evidence.
He said the burning of the kiosks and other violent acts are not the work of "normal criminals". He noted that as police continue to make arrests -- more than 400 since last month -- protesters seem to become more knowledgeable about legal technicalities.
Pol Gen Suwat said demonstrators now have legal teams ready to spring into action around the clock.
Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra, chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau, said about 30 people were involved in torching the traffic police booths on Wednesday night.
