THAI cops are probing a mass cyanide poisoning after six travellers were found dead in a luxury Bangkok hotel room.
Five bodies were discovered in a room at the five-star Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel with a sixth by the door about 7:30pm Thai time.
The dead are all believed to be Vietnamese, with two of the victims holding dual Vietnamese-American nationality.
Early local reports speculated a mass shooting but a Thai police official ruled that out, with cyanide poisoning now said to be the line of enquiry.
The official told Reuters: “There is no sign of a shooting.”
It’s thought the half-a-dozen tourists were made up of three women and three men.
Metropolitan Police Bureau commander Thiti Saengsaeng said there were no signs of a struggle at the scene, with the travellers dying together in the same room.
The group was reportedly due to check out and had their baggage already packed.
But when they didn’t return their room keys, a hotel staff member went to knock on their door – discovering the horror scene.
They are believed to have died about 5:30pm, two hours before being found.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered an urgent investigation to uncover the exact circumstances surrounding the suspected killings.
The Prime Minister’s concern was such that he even rushed to the hotel himself.
He declined to comment on the scene.
A Lumpini police station cop said the bodies were found foaming at the mouth, Associated Press reported.
The Thai government are keen to contain the scene with concerns mounting the horror story could affect tourism.
A government statement said: “The prime minister has ordered all agencies to urgently take action to avoid impact on tourism.”
The hotel has more than 350 rooms and is situated in a popular tourist district rich with restaurants and bars.
The area was rocked in October 2023 when a shooting occurred at a nearby shopping mall, killing two foreigners.
