Man jumps out of car, kills snake and threatens suicide

A man holds a cobra and knife in the middle of Ratchadamri Road outside the CentralWorld shopping centre on Wednesday. (Photo by @annniex_ via @js100radio Twitter account)

A man was arrested and taken to Lumpini police station on Wednesday after using a knife to kill a snake -- and then threatening to use it on himself -- in the middle of a busy Bangkok street.

Jor Sor 100 traffic radio reported the man stopped his Mercedes in the middle of Ratchadamri Road in front of the CentralWorld shopping centre and emerged from the car with a cobra and a knife.

He then used the knife to kill the reptile and threatened to take his own life.

Police arrived and blocked part of the road.

Pol Lt Col Kasin Kratulsin of the Lumpini police station told Thairath online that the man, 54, was in police custody and appeared to have mental problems. The name of the man was not disclosed.