Cyanide poisoning kills 6 foreigners in Thailand hotel, local authorities say

Cyanide poisoning caused nan deaths of six foreigners whose bodies were recovered successful a room successful a plush Bangkok hotel, Thai authorities said connected Wednesday, pinch nan suspected slayer among nan dead.

Traces of nan rapid-acting, deadly chemic were recovered during autopsies of nan bodies and connected drinking glasses and a teapot successful nan room astatine nan luxury Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel where nan dormant were discovered precocious connected Tuesday, according to constabulary and a hospital.

Interviews pinch relatives of nan 3 women and 3 men who died revealed location had been a conflict complete indebtedness related to an investment, according to police, who said they were investigating really nan cyanide was obtained.

The six were each of Vietnamese ethnicity, 2 of those U.S. nationals. Police said nan U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation had assisted pinch nan investigation.

“We tin presume that nan six died from cyanide,” Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin told reporters, adding that results of further tests would beryllium disposable connected Friday.

The U.S. State Department said it was monitoring nan business and section authorities were responsible for nan investigation.

Vietnam’s overseas ministry confirmed 4 of nan dormant were Vietnamese nationals and its embassy in Thailand was coordinating intimately pinch authorities.

Trending Now

“We dream that nan victims’ families soon flooded this awesome loss,” overseas ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.

The Grand Hyatt Erawan, operated by Erawan Group ERW.BK, has complete 350 rooms and is located successful a celebrated tourer territory known for luxury shopping and restaurants.

News of nan deaths, initially reported by immoderate Thai media arsenic a shooting, could beryllium a setback for Thailand as it bets heavy connected its captious tourism assemblage reviving an system that has struggled since nan pandemic.

The authorities had been eager to quickly get to nan bottommost of what happened, concerned bad publicity could effect a assemblage that is expecting 35 cardinal overseas visitors this twelvemonth and tens of billions of dollars successful spending.

Trirong Phiwpan, commandant of nan Thai constabulary grounds office, said nan investigation indicated drinks successful the hotel room were spiked pinch cyanide by 1 of those who died.

“After unit brought beverage cups and 2 basking h2o bottles, beverage and beverage pots… 1 of nan six introduced cyanide.”