200 monkeys riot in Thailand, forcing police to barricade their own station

Police in the center Thailand said they barricaded themselves in their own station at the weekend after a formidable mob of 200 escaped monkeys ran riot in the city.

People living in Lopbur have long suffered from a growing and aggressive monkey population, so the authorities have built special enclosures to contain groups of unruly residents.

But on Saturday, about 200 primates broke free and rampaged through the city, with one unit attacking a local police station.

“We had to make sure the doors and windows were closed to prevent food from entering the building,” said police captain Somchai Sidi.

Staff from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation catch a tranquilized long-tailed macaque as officials begin a monkey trap in Lopburi, Thailand, on June 5. Photo: Reuters

He was concerned that looters might destroy property, including police documents, he added.

Lopburi police said on Facebook on Sunday that traffic police and security officers were called in to repel visitors.