Two German tourists shot in Phuket

[buksida]

Two German tourists were shot and wounded overnight near Patong Beach in Phuket province and the gunman, reported to be an Australian, has been detained by police

Phuket police on Tuesday night received a report of a shooting in front of Phuket Beach hotel in tambon Patong in Krathu district.

The incident took place near a night entertainment quarter packed with tourists. Police sent to the scene learned on arrival that the two victims had already been taken to hospital. They were later identified as Johann Baschenegger and Joseph Werner.

A bullet went through Mr Werner's right arm and he was deemed to be critical condition. Mr Baschenegger was also hit in the right arm by a bullet from a pistol of unknown calibre.

The gunman was described as a large Westerner who fled the scene after the shooting.

Mr Baschenegger had arrived in Phuket the night before. Investigators believe that he was mistakenly shot and are reviewing footage from surrounding CCTV cameras.

According to the latest report, the shooter is now in police custody. He is reported to be an Australian man who attempted to shoot a Dane over a business dispute, but unintentionally hit the two Germans.

According to another report, police were told that there was an argument about payment for a motorcycle by two Westerners and one of them fired a gun but he missed the intended target.

Source: BKK Post

[Bristolian]

Update

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/na ... 6560449651

Pair of Australian men held over Thailand shooting
• by: Dan Box
• From: The Australian
• January 24, 2013 12:00AM

TWO Australian men have been arrested over the shooting of a pair of German tourists on the Thai island of Phuket.

Lawyers for the Australians, John Edward Cohen, 33, and Adam Lewis Shea, 26, said the men had been involved in an argument over a motorbike with another man, a Dane, in the town of Patong on Tuesday.
During the dispute, Mr Cohen allegedly fired a pistol, accidentally hitting the German tourists and wounding each in the right arm.

Thai police are reportedly investigating whether the Australians are linked to the Bandidos bikie gang, which has been active in Thailand for at least a decade.

The shooting took place early on Tuesday evening, near the popular tourist area of Patong Beach. The two Germans, Johann Baschenegger and Joseph Werner, were both taken to hospital, where one was reportedly in a critical condition last night. The two Australians were arrested within a few hours of the incident and appeared in court yesterday.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was unable to confirm what charges the men faced or whether they had been released on bail: "We can confirm the arrest in Phuket of two Australian citizens, a 33-year-old man from NSW and a 26-year-old man from Tasmania, in connection with a shooting."