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Police arrest man believed to have shot teenager during protest in Bangkok

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In Kanchanaburi province, police have arrested a suspect who they say shot a 15-year-old boy during protests outside Din Daeng Police Station in August. The shooting caused huge controversy, with many accusing police of using live ammunition and firing at the crowd of protesters.

Police have always maintained that they only used rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters during demonstrations in Bangkok that have increased in recent weeks. If it is proven that the arrested man fired the near-fatal shot, the police would be found in the right.

The suspect taken into custody is a 28-year-old man identified only as Khun Chutpoing by police. The criminal court had issued a warrant for his arrest, which had previously been issued to detectives at the Din Daeng police station.

The shooting took place on the night of August 16 as anti-government activists protested with increasing volatility. The 15-year-old boy was shot in the head and has been in a coma since the shooting.

Police denied claims that they had used live ammunition to shoot protesters and held a press conference outside the Metropolitan Police Bureau the following day, saying only rubber bullets were used to contain the crowd.

A bullet was found lodged in the 15-year-old’s brainstem and the shot caused a fracture to the cervical vertebrae, the hospital said. The hospital originally did not specify what type of bullet the boy was shot at, leading many on social media to accuse police of using real bullets to nearly kill the protester.

The suspect arrested by police yesterday has denied all charges against him. He is suspected of attempted murder and illegal possession of ammunition and a firearm.

A press conference is scheduled for this afternoon by the Metropolitan Police Bureau to discuss the matter further.

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