PUBLISHED ONAugust 13, 2026 12:30 AMBYEsther LamA 46-year-old monk accidentally sparked panic at a hospital in Thailand after his unusual phone case was mistaken for a real firearm on Monday (Aug 10).
The police told local media they received reports at around 10.10am that day about a monk reportedly carrying a firearm outside a pharmacy at Chai Nat Narenthorn Hospital in the Mueang Chai Nat district, according to local media reports.
Mueang Chai Nat district is about a 2.5-hour drive from Bangkok.
The monk, identified as Phra Preeda (transliterated), reportedly told the police that he had gone to the hospital for a scheduled appointment.
However, the handle of what looked like a gun was visible from the pocket of his outer robe, alarming many visitors.
When police officers arrived at the hospital, they approached Preeda and inspected the item. It was later found to be a fake gun attached to a mobile phone case, reported local media.
The police instructed Preeda to break off the gun-shaped part of the phone case and it was subsequently seized. They also warned him that it could cause panic even if was unintended, reported Thai news outlet Khaosod.
Preeda reportedly said that he bought the item from a shop on TikTok for 180 baht (SS$7) because it felt comfortable to hold and he thought it looked unique, adding that he had no harmful intentions.
He subsequently apologised to the public and said he would not do it again.
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