A knife-wielding man allegedly experiencing hallucinations sent vendors and shoppers fleeing in panic after he stormed a fresh market in Mae Sot, Thailand, early Tuesday morning.
The incident happened at around 5am on September 8, 2026, after Mae Sot Police Station’s 191 emergency centre received a report of a man causing a disturbance outside a convenience store behind Pha Charoen Fresh Market in Tak province.
Police motorcycle patrol officers rushed to the scene and found a 25-year-old Myanmar national, identified as Yak, behaving erratically while holding a short, pointed knife. The area was crowded with people, but no one dared approach him.
Two officers initially tried to calm Yak down and persuaded him to put down the weapon. However, the situation quickly escalated when he reportedly charged towards the officers with the knife after seeing that they were outnumbered.
The officers retreated and called for reinforcements. More than 10 police personnel subsequently arrived, prompting Yak to flee into the nearby fresh market while still carrying the knife and shouting.
Vendors and shoppers who witnessed the chase reportedly ran for safety and sought shelter as Yak moved through the market. Police continued pursuing him until he eventually escaped through the front of the market and entered a nearby alley.
Officers then moved to block the alley’s entrances and exits. Realising he had nowhere to go, Yak eventually became exhausted and slowed down.
Police resumed negotiations and managed to convince him to throw away the knife before he ran towards roadside grass and sat down on the road. Officers then moved in and arrested him without anyone being injured.
After his arrest, Yak reportedly told police: “I want to be a good person, but society doesn’t give me a chance.”
Police took him to Mae Sot Police Station to calm him down and begin further investigations.
Initial checks found that Yak was a homeless Myanmar national who had been sleeping at a temple. Locals reportedly nicknamed him “Mr Giant” because he has a tattoo depicting a giant’s face on his head.
Residents were also said to be familiar with him, with police receiving reports that he had allegedly carried a knife and caused disturbances at the fresh market on several previous occasions.
Police have since taken Yak for a drug test and said further legal action will follow based on the investigation.
