Armed police attack drills force temple monks to flee – Bangkok Post

In Bangkok, police exercises to practice the scenario of an armed attack led to panic among monks in one of the Buddhist temples: the clergy temporarily left the territory of the monastery after shots were fired during the training and an assault was simulated. The report on the incident was published in the Bangkok Post.

According to the publication, the exercises were aimed at practicing tactics for responding to attacks with firearms and covered elements of assault operations, which caused a lot of noise and panic among laypeople and monks who were near the training ground or training ground. The incident occurred within the metropolitan area; the exact name of the temple and the exact time of the exercises are not specified in the materials of the publication, but it is noted that the sounds imitating a shootout and loud commands forced the monks to leave the territory and gather in a safe place.

Eyewitnesses told reporters from the Bangkok Post that they saw several monks in orange robes hurriedly leaving the temple grounds, fearing a real threat to their lives. Police officials conducting the exercise claim that the purpose of the event was to improve the preparedness of the rapid reaction forces for possible armed incidents and minimize the risks to civilians in real attacks.

The Bangkok Post publication quoted official comments that such exercises are important for improving the professionalism and coordination of units, but the article also emphasizes that the organizers should more carefully inform the local population and religious communities about the planned exercises in order to avoid unnecessary panic. The editors cite testimonies from residents of the surrounding area, who note that they did not receive advance warnings about the exercises, and that sharp noises and simulated gunfire looked like a real shootout.

As a result, several laypeople and visitors to the temple asked the local authorities to investigate and clarify whether procedures were followed to ensure the safety of civilians during the exercise. The article also says that after the incident, police representatives contacted the temple management and explained the purpose of the exercises, assuring that blank cartridges and training explosive devices were used during the training, and there was no risk to those present.

However, the editorial office cites the opinion of public relations experts who insist on the need for more transparent communications and advance notification of religious institutions located near the training areas. Further steps indicated in the Bangkok Post article: the police promised to conduct explanatory work with local communities and review the notification procedure before such operations to prevent the recurrence of panic situations.

The source does not provide specific instructions for an official investigation or disciplinary action.