Police arrest alleged killer of Swedish tourist
PHUKET – Police have arrested and charged their prime suspect in the murder of 27-year-old Swede, Hanna Charlotta Backlund, after he gave himself up yesterday.
The Phuket Gazette reported that police have charged 31-year-old Akkaradej Tunkae.
Akkaradej allegedly told police that he had watched Miss Backlund and her friend Emma Stenman at Mai Khao Beach for three days until on Saturday he spotted Miss Backlund sunbathing alone.
He stabbed her with a kitchen knife taken from his home, police said.
As a result of the bad publicity which the murder has attracted, female tourists visiting Phuket will be given whistles to sound in case of an emergency, said Thailand’s tourism minister, Weerasak Kohsurat.
Associated Press reported that the whistles are part of a campaign to increase security on Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations.
The safety whistles will be shaped like the symbol commonly used to designate women – a circle above a cross – and can be worn around the neck, said Phuket police major Sathabhorn Sangaunsuk, who will be overseeing the project.
The ministry also plans to increase the presence of security guards around the island and publish safety manuals that will be distributed to tourists, the minister said in a statement.
Ian Jarrett
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