Police have reported that six individuals who died in a luxury hotel suite in Thailand were poisoned by drinks contaminated with cyanide.
Police suspect that one of the deceased was responsible for the poisoning, driven by overwhelming debt. The six individuals were discovered dead by housekeepers at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok late on Tuesday.
Investigators estimate that the six individuals had been dead for about 24 hours by the time they were found. Authorities reported that two of the deceased had lent “ten millions of Thai baht” to another victim for investment purposes, with ten million baht equivalent to nearly $280,000.
Confusion and mystery initially surrounded the discovery of the bodies, with local reports suggesting a possible shooting, which police later dismissed. On Tuesday, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the hotel and called for an urgent investigation, emphasizing that the incident was a “private matter” unrelated to national security.
The victims include four Vietnamese nationals: Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, her husband Hong Pham Thanh, 49, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47, and Dinh Tran Phu, 37. The other two victims are American citizens Sherine Chong, 56, and Dang Hung Van, 55. The U.S. State Department has expressed its condolences and stated that it is “closely monitoring” the situation.
According to Mr. Srettha, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting Thai authorities with the investigation.