Thais troops encircle hotel to arrest Red Shirt leaders after last week’s deadly clashes

Thai forces move in to arrest Red Shirt leaders

BANGKOK — Thailand’s deputy prime minister says security forces have surrounded a Bangkok hotel where some of the Red Shirt anti-government protest leaders are holed up.

Suthep Thaugsuban announced on national television that a unit of special forces was dispatched to the SC Park Hotel in the Thai capital to capture “terrorists” and Red Shirt leaders responsible for deadly clashes with troops last weekend.

At least 24 people were killed and more than 800 injured in the clashes on April 10, the worst political violence in nearly two decades.

Suthep said Friday: “As I speak, a special force unit has been sent to SC Park Hotel, where some of these terrorists and leaders are staying.”