Dozens of Pakistanis clash on Thai beach in social media challenge

Dozens of Pakistani tourists clashed on a Thai beach as a social media feud escalated into a physical showdown.

More than 20 of the holidaymakers allegedly arranged to meet at the notorious Pattaya Beach as shocked sex workers looked on in the early hours of June 5.

The groups were said to have exchanged insults and challenges online before agreeing to settle the dispute in person. The rival groups began trading punches and pulling out weapons, sparking panic among tourists and residents.

But the violence broke out directly outside the local police station at around 1 am local time. Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene, where they found two injured men.

One had suffered a head wound after allegedly being struck with a blunt object, while the other sustained a cut to his hand from a sharp weapon.

Paramedics provided first aid before both victims were taken to hospital.

One of the injured men told officers that his friend had been struck in the head with what appeared to be brass knuckles during the brawl.

Police said the violence was triggered by a social media dispute, adding no arrests were made yet as investigations were ongoing.