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"No tourists were injured by the violence, which started Saturday evening and ended early Sunday, said Phuket police Lt. Col. Amnuay Kraiwuttinan. But local media reported that scores of people missed flights as a result of the riot, which blocked a main road to the airport for several hours."

"Damage to the police station was yet to be calculated, but all windows in the three-storey police building were shattered, while the fence and signpost outside were wrecked and some 27 vehicles belonging to the authorities and private owners were burnt. Fourteen police officers suffered minor injuries."

How the Thalang riot unfolded

October 10

11.20am: Two young men die after being chased on their motorcycle by Phuket's Thalang police.

1pm: Thalang police inform the public that they found 50 amphetamine pills and one kilogram of kratom leaves in the young men's bags

3pm: Relatives and friends of the teenagers gather in front of Thalang Police Station and demand its chief tell the truth and bring the four officers responsible for the chase before the public.

4.30pm: Around 100 people protest in front of the police station.

6.30pm: The protesters close the road in front of the station after the authorities fail to provide them with a good answer.

8pm: A suspected gunshot is heard and leads the protesters to believe the police fired at them, so they besiege the police station.

9.30pm: The situation gets worse. The protesters throw sticks, stones and eggs at the station.

10.30pm: The protesters start to set fire to police vehicles and other cars parked at the station.

11.25pm: Thalang police ask for and receive reinforcements but they still cannot control the situation.

October 11

00.00: The four police officers involved in the deadly chase are ordered out of the station, while the reinforcement force is asked to help other staff trapped inside the station.

3am: Maj-General Theenachat Jinda-ngen, the Military Circle 41 commander, and a group of soldiers negotiate with the protesters and ask them to stop the protest.

3.30am: The protesters agree to disperse and have further talks with the authorities at 9am at Wat Bandon School.

9am: The talks between the relatives of the dead man and teenager, police and the military start.

11am: It is decided a joint committee will be established to investigate the deaths, with a fund to be set up for the young men's families.

Sailorman wrote:Barang: Supply me with money, arms of my choice and aircraft and I would gladly help rescue Richard, but I would be tempted on the way to use the arms/aircraft to give you 30,000ft parachute-less flying lessons a la Vietnam war era. "Oh, his flying is ok, but his landings suck!"

Thailand is a ticking bomb that will go very bad when the old guy departs.