Phuket Tourist Police officers and foreign volunteers today visited the Russian tourists admitted to hospital after sustaining knife wounds in an apparent armed robbery attempt early Friday.
Mr Anton Lukin, 30, is being treated at Patong Hospital for a knife wound on his left hand while Ms Aleksandra Obodova, 22, is in critical condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital, having suffered slash wounds to her left wrist, stomach and knee.
Pol Lt Col Anukol Nuket of Kathu Police gave an update on the case: “We’ve now collected statements from all four tourists. The two Australians have already been cleared by doctors to go home, but we’re still monitoring the condition of the Russian woman closely.”
Lt Col Anukol said that the investigation has gathered leads about the identity of the suspects from eye witnesses as well as CCTV footage collected along the suspected beach road – Loma Park escape route.
“We’ve got the 4-inch pocket knife used in the attack as evidence and expect to make arrests soon,” he said, declining to provide any more details.
Meanwhile, Provincial Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen, has ordered Kathu Police Chief Pol Col Chaiyawat Uikham to assign top priority to apprehending the culprits, and has ordered more night patrols in all major tourist areas.