A retired general, father of a man who went on a rampage by setting their house on fire and shooting at firefighters, admitted the house had been seized by the Enforcement Department five days earlier after his daughter secretly used it as collateral for a 50 million baht loan. The son was reportedly resentful about being barred from feeding the family pets.
On 25 Sep 2026 GMT+7, police from Bang Phlat station received a report of a house fire at Soi Charat Lap in Bang Phlat district. Local residents heard multiple gunshots and alerted authorities, prompting firefighters and police to respond to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers found a man acting erratically and armed inside the house. He was identified as Mr. Sarawut (surname withheld), age 59. Authorities established a 200-meter perimeter to keep bystanders away for safety. Firefighters began spraying water to contain the fire, but efforts were hindered because the man refused to surrender and remained inside.
More than 10 S.W.A.T. officers were deployed and surrounded the house. Upon learning of their presence, Mr. Sarawut used a 9mm pistol to take his own life on the second floor, where the fire was spreading. S.W.A.T. then entered to secure the scene while firefighters intensified efforts, eventually controlling the fire after over an hour.
Inside the residence, officials discovered numerous military-grade weapons, ammunition, and explosives. They called in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, who are currently examining and safely removing the hazardous materials.
It was confirmed that the deceased was the son of retired Major General Saman (surname withheld), age 86. The motive behind the incident remains under investigation.
Investigators found Mr. Sarawut deceased on a chair on the second floor, still holding a firearm. Adjacent rooms contained numerous explosive devices. Police withdrew to request backup from the Metropolitan Police Division 7’s special unit and the EOD team to secure and manage the scene.
The news team spoke with retired Major General Saman, father of Mr. Sarawut. He said the family of four had lived in the house until 21 September when Enforcement Department officials posted a court order forbidding outsiders from entering. This forced the family to scatter. He later learned that his daughter had secretly used the house as collateral for a 50 million baht loan, the exact timing of which was unknown to him. The case went to court, which ruled in favor of the private company holding the collateral, leading to the seizure notice on the house.
He described his son as an animal lover, deeply attached to the over 20 pets in the house, including cats, dogs, and alligator fish. His son had tried to feed the animals but claimed officials prevented him from doing so, causing him distress. The father said he was unaware of any mental illness, drug abuse, or alcohol problems in his son.
Regarding the large cache of military weapons and explosives found in the house, the father denied ownership and said he did not know where his son obtained them. He also could not confirm if the body found was definitively his son’s, as he had been unable to contact him since the previous day and was unsure of the incident’s cause.
Police from Bang Phlat station summoned retired Major General Saman for questioning. Meanwhile, officers from the EOD unit, Metropolitan Police, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Central Forensic Police are conducting an investigation at the scene to collect evidence. The area has been cordoned off to prevent unauthorized access.