BANGKOK: Thai police are investigating the deaths of six foreign nationals whose bodies were found in a room at an upmarket hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday, including looking for a seventh person in connection with the incident.
All six, who were of Vietnamese descent, with two carrying US passports, checked into Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel at two separate times after arriving on Saturday and Sunday, police official Thiti Saengsawang told reporters.
The group — three men and three women — checked into different rooms but their bodies were found in one room, which did not show any signs of struggle, he said.
“This was not self harm, but someone caused the deaths,” said Thiti, adding that police were looking for a seventh person connected with the group.
“We are tracing every step since they got off the plane.”
Police officers found the bodies after a call from the hotel staff at around 5.30 p.m. (1030 GMT) reporting that there had been deaths, the Thai police said in a statement.
Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who visited the hotel late on Tuesday with senior police officials, ordered a swift investigation on the matter, the government said in a statement.
“The prime minister has ordered all agencies to urgently take action to avoid impact on tourism,” it said.
The US and Vietnamese embassies in Bangkok did not respond to calls from Reuters.
The Grand Hyatt Erawan, which has over 350 rooms and is located in a popular tourist district in the Thai capital known for luxury shopping and restaurants, also did not immediately respond to calls or an email seeking comment.
Tourism serves as a key driver for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, with the government expecting 35 million foreign arrivals this year after 28 million visited the country in 2023, spending 1.2 trillion baht ($33.71 billion).
The tourism sector was shaken last October by a shooting spree at a luxury shopping mall, close to the Hyatt, in which two foreigners were killed, prompting government measures to improve confidence, including ramping up security at popular locations.
To woo more visitors, the government has offered longer visa stay periods and waivers for several nationalities.
Six foreign nationals found dead in Bangkok hotel, Thai PM orders probe
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Six foreign nationals found dead in Bangkok hotel, Thai PM orders probe
- Group — three men and three women — checked into different rooms but their bodies were found in one room, which did not show any signs of struggle
- Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, who visited the hotel late on Tuesday with senior police officials, has ordered a swift investigation
UK health minister denies plotting against PM Starmer
- Health chief Wes Streeting has long been seen as a potential replacement for Keir Starmer
- The government’s poll ratings have nosedived since Starmer won power in July last year
LONDON: The UK health minister was on Wednesday forced to repeatedly deny he planned to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer, hours after sources said the premier would fight off any leadership challenge, despite plummeting poll ratings.
“I’m not going in to demand the prime minister’s resignation,” Wes Streeting told Sky News. “I support the prime minister. I have done since he was elected leader of the Labour Party.”
The 42-year-old has long been seen as a potential replacement for Starmer.
His denial, repeated to other broadcasters, follow anonymous briefings by Starmer allies who on Sunday told journalists he would fight any attempt to replace him.
“Keir knows he is already fighting a leadership contest. When it comes, he won’t resign. He will fight it,” one supporter was quoted as saying by The Times daily.
The government’s poll ratings have nosedived since Starmer won power in July last year.
Despite securing a landslide election victory, his government has struggled on issues such as economic growth and immigration.
Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has been leading by double-digit margins in many national polls for much of this year.
The next general election is not expected until 2029 but the government faces an important test at local elections in May 2026.
A challenge for the leadership of the Labour Party would require the support of 20 percent of the party’s MPs, which currently means 80 nominations would be needed.
