Patong motorcycle taxi rider stabbed helping foreigner

A Patong motorcycle taxi rider was stabbed in the arm late on Saturday, 7 November, after he stopped to help a foreign man who appeared to have a problem with his motorbike, and Patong police are now reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attacker, Thaiger reported on Monday.

The 37-year-old rider, named by Thaiger as Anon Songsakul, was treated at Patong Hospital. He reported the attack to Patong Police Station in Kathu district the following day, Sunday, 8 November.

How the Patong motorcycle taxi attack happened

According to the account the rider gave police, he had just finished a job. He collected a Thai woman from a venue in the Nanai area of Patong and dropped her off on Phang Mueang Sai Kor Road, close to a convenience store. Lanta News, citing the police report, put the time of the incident at about 10.45pm.

As he rode away, he saw three foreign men standing next to a parked motorcycle. One of them waved at him, apparently asking for help with the bike. The rider pulled over but stayed seated on his own motorcycle, then leaned across to check a light switch on the other vehicle.

At that point, he told police, the man who had waved him over pulled out a small folding knife, about three inches long, and stabbed him once in the left arm. The blade also reached his upper body near the left side of his chest. The rider pushed the man's hand away, left the scene and went to Patong Hospital for treatment.

Police have not said what the motive may have been, and the reports do not say whether anything was taken.

What police know about the suspect

The rider described the attacker as short and slim, with a moustache. He said the man wore shorts and a black long-sleeved hooded top with the hood pulled up over his head. Two other foreign men were with him at the time.

Lanta News reported that the case was received by Pol Lt Col Chomphonuch Anantayakul, an investigator at Patong Police Station. Officers are working through CCTV footage from the area and questioning witnesses and others involved, with the aim of identifying the suspect and bringing charges.

Key facts so far:

• When: Saturday, 7 November, at about 10.45pm.
• Where: near Phang Mueang Sai Kor Road in Patong, Kathu district.
• Injury: one stab wound to the left arm, with the blade reaching near the chest; treated at Patong Hospital.
• Weapon: a folding knife about three inches long, according to the victim.
• Status: no arrest reported as of Monday; police are checking CCTV and witnesses.

A pattern of attacks on transport workers

Thaiger noted that the case follows other recent reports of violence against transport workers in Patong. In July, police arrested a foreign man accused of assaulting a tuk-tuk driver in a dispute over a 300-baht fare. The driver needed 10 stitches, and immigration officers reportedly revoked the suspect's permission to stay in Thailand.

Motorcycle taxi riders, who wear numbered vests and work from roadside stands, are a common way to get around Patong's narrow streets, especially late at night when traffic and parking make cars slow. Riders often stop for people who flag them down, which is how this rider says he was drawn in.

The attack comes during a busy period for Phuket authorities, who are also dealing with action against nightlife venues suspected of nominee ownership in Thalang and recent cases involving foreigners working illegally as tour guides.

Staying safe and reporting incidents

Police have not issued a specific warning linked to this case. Residents and visitors who witness a crime in Phuket can call the police on 191 or the Tourist Police on 1155, which has English-speaking staff. Anyone who saw the incident on Phang Mueang Sai Kor Road on Saturday night, or who has dashcam or phone footage from the area around 10.45pm, can contact Patong Police Station.

For visitors, the usual advice applies: use registered drivers and ride-hailing apps where possible, keep to well-lit roads late at night, and be wary of approaches from strangers. Our guide to common Phuket tourist scams also covers other situations to watch for.

The original report on the attack was published by Thaiger. Phuket Times will update this story if police make an arrest.

Image: Patong Beach at dusk, near where the Patong motorcycle taxi rider was attacked. Photo by Joachim Lutz via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.