BANGKOK – A calm Friday morning turned uneasy in the Bang Bon District of Bangkok when a report reached the local Civil Defence Volunteer Centre about a man wearing a vest covered in objects that looked like parts of a vest bomb.
Community concern grew quickly, pushing civil defence volunteers and police to move fast. The city’s history of bomb threats made the situation feel even more tense as authorities raced to the scene.
When they arrived, they found a 60-year-old local man in a black vest loaded with pouches. At first glance, what he wore looked alarming, drawing attention from people nearby. Officers thoroughly inspected the vest and spoke with the man.
He explained that his vest only held sandbags, around 20 kilograms in total, used as weights for his daily walks to improve his fitness. The weighted vest was harmless, and the man apologized for any worry caused. He said this vest was simply a piece of exercise gear he used most mornings.
Neighbours recognized him and confirmed that seeing him on his morning walks with the same vest was a normal part of their routine. Their accounts matched his explanation and helped ease the tension.
Most locals felt relieved that the confusion ended without trouble and appreciated the quick response from those who reported the unusual sight. Police believe a passer-by, not knowing about his regular walks or equipment, acted out of concern for safety after noticing the vest.
While the situation ended smoothly, it reflects how alert Bangkok continues to be after several bomb-related incidents. Many remember the 2015 Erawan Shrine tragedy in Pathum Wan, where an explosion killed 20 people and hurt over 100. Other events, like the Siam BTS Station blast and the Ko Samui car bomb, left more injuries and were thought to be linked to political tension in the country.
Bomb incidents didn’t stop there. In 2019, Bangkok faced a string of explosions at half a dozen locations, such as Chong Nonsi BTS Station and the Chaengwattana Government Complex, which injured seven people during an ASEAN summit.
Officials connected some of these attacks to involvement from southern insurgents and believed they wanted to disrupt public order. As recently as 2025, Phuket and Krabi both had bomb scares when items traced to possible explosives turned up.
Many proved to be false alarms meant to stir panic rather than cause real harm. Living with these repeated threats has made both Bangkok residents and police more watchful, so even harmless gear, like a weighted vest, can now trigger a call.
After the Bang Bon incident, the local Civil Defence Volunteer Centre shared information about what happened on their Facebook page, “อปพร.เขตบางบอน.” They credited both volunteers and police for responding promptly and praised neighbours for their awareness.
The statement made it clear that reports like these, even when they lead to confusion, help keep everyone safe. The officers confirmed that the items were only sandbags for exercise, putting minds at ease across the district.
This mix-up shows the tight connection between looking out for safety and living daily life in a city shaped by its past attacks. Thanks to the man’s honesty and his neighbours’ quick support, the incident ended without issue.
Police remind residents to stay on alert and keep reporting anything odd, which helps protect everyone across Bangkok.
