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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Thai police use rubber bullets to disperse protest over APEC summit

Police officers holding shields stand guard during a protest against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2022, near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand November 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Thai police on Friday fired rubber bullets to disperse a protest against the APEC summit in Bangkok, a police official in charge of the event's security taskforce said.

About 350 protesters had gathered and clashed with police, Ashyan Kraithong said, about 10 km (6 miles) from the venue where leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group are meeting.

Videos on social media showed protesters trying to overturn a police car, throwing projectiles and charging at police, while officers in riot gear advanced on them with shields and beat them back with batons.

Demonstrators holds signs as they take part in a protest against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2022, near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand November 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Youth activist Patsaravalee 'Mind' Tanakitvibulpon, who was at the demonstration, said people were protesting against the APEC summit and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

"The police have overreacted. They are using rubber bullets on us and tried to stop us many times," she told Reuters.

Police arrested 10 protesters.

A demonstrator is detained by a riot police officer during a protest against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2022, near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand November 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

"The protesters broke the law, physically assaulted police officers," Ashyan said, adding that five officers were injured.

(This story has been corrected to say she told Reuters in paragraph 5, not he told Reuters)

Demonstrators with their arms interlocked take part in a protest against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2022, near the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand November 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

(Reporting by Vorasit Satienlerk, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ed Davies)

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