Metropolitan Police Commissioner revealed an urgent investigation into the source of cyanide found in the bodies of victims from the Lat Phrao beer hall fire, suspected to have originated from foam. Patrol officers who assisted the injured also tested positive for this substance. Awaiting investigation results to determine if there was negligence in allowing the venue to operate past legal hours.
On 17 July 2026, Police General Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, disclosed updates on the Lat Phrao beer hall fire case, stating that examinations of the deceased’s bodies found high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in their blood. These two substances combined can cause sudden oxygen deprivation, and continuous exposure for four minutes can be fatal.
The deceased inhaled these substances rather than ingesting them, leading to suffocation and death. Scientific verification is needed to determine which materials burned inside the venue produced these chemicals, with foam suspected as a primary source. Police officers who entered to assist the victims also had these substances in their bodies, affecting their respiratory function during rescue operations.
Regarding the parliamentary committee’s criticism that police negligence in allowing the venue to operate beyond legal hours contributed to the incident, the Metropolitan Police Division 2 has formed a fact-finding committee. Whether there was any dereliction of duty will depend on the investigation’s findings, and any conclusions will be addressed accordingly.