The incident, which took place near a local mosque, has left residents fearful.
According to reports, the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Sansern Sa-at, attacked his mother and later slashed the throat of 64-year-old Thongsuk Yongrum, a local resident. Mr Thongsuk sustained a deep wound that required 13 stitches.
The incident occurred at about 12:25pm near a residence on Saphan Ruam Soi 1 on Anuphas Phuketkarn Rd. Witnesses said Sansern had an altercation with his mother before leaving on his motorbike.
He later returned and resumed his assault on her as she came to pray at the mosque. A bystander, who had come to the mosque for prayers, intervened, leading to a struggle.
During the chaos, Mr Thongsuk, who was in front of his shop, was suddenly attacked by Sansern.
“I was just moving a cart when he came at me and slit my throat,” Mr. Thongsuk recounted. “At first, I didn’t feel anything, but when I touched my neck, there was blood everywhere. The doctor said I was lucky because the wound narrowly missed a major artery.”
Local residents quickly subdued Sansern and handed him over to the police.
His mother, 70-year-old Yamuna Surankun, described her son as a danger to the community. “He has attacked people before, even sent some to the ICU,” she said. “I tried to get him medical treatment, but he refuses to take his medication properly.”
She added that she had been secretly crushing his pills into water to ensure he took them.
Sansern is currently in police custody at Phuket City Police Station as authorities investigate further.
Local residents remain concerned about their safety, as they say the suspect has a history of erratic and violent behaviour.