Bangkok residents seek help after attack by Norwegian man

On August 2, 2026, two Bangkok residents turned to the Sai Mai Must Survive organization for help following an alleged assault by a Norwegian man. The incident reportedly transpired near Bang Na intersection, involving the skywalk above the junction. The victims, who have chosen to remain anonymous as T and Y, both in their early 20s, approached the organization on Sunday to request legal aid and express concerns over their safety.

T recounted that while walking to work on his regular route, he overheard a foreign man shouting from behind him. The assault allegedly commenced when the man suddenly kicked T in the right arm, causing his mobile phone to fall from his grasp. The suspect then proceeded to pick up the device, remove its protective case, and hurl it forcefully onto the ground, shattering the screen.

T alleged the man's actions were aggressive, and he appeared to be under the influence of a substance, though this claim has not been independently confirmed.

In an attempt to seek assistance, T encountered Y, a close friend, nearby. Y recounted that she confronted the man, questioning the reason behind his attack on T. The suspect allegedly responded by claiming he was "exercising" and, had he intended to harm T, he would have inflicted severe injury using a knife. Furthermore, Y accused the man of threatening her in English, stating, "I will kill you."

During the altercation, Y attempted to record the incident on her phone, allegedly prompting the suspect to chase her, knock her down, and flee the scene. The pair stated they fled towards a group of motorcycle taxi drivers as the suspect pursued them, only ceasing his pursuit once he saw the group. He subsequently crossed the road and reportedly engaged in further disturbances at nearby shops.

Both complainants expressed surprise at their meeting with the man, who had never interacted with them before. T has since begun using a motorcycle taxi to commute to work, citing fear of encountering the suspect again. The suspect was later identified as a Norwegian national named Erling. Ekkaphop Luangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page, contacted Bang Na Police Station to request the identification and apprehension of the individual.

He urged authorities to expedite their actions, expressing concern over the suspect's potential departure from Thailand before any legal proceedings could be finalized. As of Sunday afternoon, no arrest or charges had been announced by the police.