Vietnam says fisherman missing in shooting incident by Thai navy return home

According to information provided by Vietnamese authorities, fisherman named To Hong Ngoc of Vietnam who was assumed to be missing in the shooting incident by Thai navy has arrived safely back home, said a Vietnamese official on Thursday.

The remark was made by spokesperson of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Le Hai Binh at a regular press briefing held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi.

Earlier, Vietnam said Thai navy have fired at three Vietnamese fishing boats with 18 fishermen on board, injuring two fishermen, and two other Vietnamese fishing boats sank while being escorted to land, leaving a captain missing.

The incident took place at around 14:00 local time (0700 GMT) last Friday, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand.

The fishing boats were chased off by Thai naval police after they were allegedly found illegally operating in Thailand's waters earlier on the same day, according to Nguyen Hai Ngoc, first secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy.

"Following request from Vietnam, the Thai side has actively launched the search for the missing fisherman," Binh said, adding that after learning the information that the fisherman had returned home safely, Vietnamese MOFA's consulate department requested Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to notify Thai side to end the search for the fisherman.

"Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand is working closely with Thai authorities in order to verify relevant information and the embassy will also continue to take actions to protect Vietnamese citizens," Binh said.

It was the second time Thai naval vessels shot at Vietnamese fishing boats causing casualties.

In September 2015, they opened fire on Vietnamese boats, killing a fisherman. Endit