On 10 April and 13–19 May 2010, the Thai military cracked down on the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protests in central Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

The crackdown was the culmination of months of protests that called for the Democrat Party-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold elections.

[9] On 10 April, troops executed an unsuccessful crackdown on protesters at Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, resulting in 25 deaths (including a Japanese journalist and five soldiers) and over 800 injuries.

[15] On the evening of 13 May, Khattiya Sawasdiphol ("Seh Daeng"), a popular security adviser to the protesters, was shot in the head by a sniper's bullet while he was giving an interview to The New York Times.

The state of emergency, already in place in Bangkok, was expanded to 17 provinces and the military commended an extended crackdown, leading to an additional 41 civilian deaths (including an Italian photographer) and more than 250 injuries by 8:30 pm on 18 May.

[4][19][20][21] On 16 May, UDD leaders said they were ready for talks as long as the military pulled back, but the government demanded the protesters' unconditional dispersal.

[citation needed] In February 2010, Abhisit tightened security in anticipation of a controversial Supreme Court ruling on former Prime Minister Takshin Shinawatra.

[citation needed] The crackdown against protesters on 10 April occurred along the middle stretch of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, from Phan Fa Lilat Bridge towards the Democracy Monument, along with the surrounding area.

[11][27] The clashes led to 19 civilian deaths from the afternoon to late evening, mostly concentrated at Khok Wua Intersection and Dinso Road at the north side of the Democracy Monument.

In the late evening, around 8:30 pm, a group of armed people dressed in black emerged at Khok Wua, attacking the soldiers with guns and explosives.

[29][30] On Friday, 14 May, Thai police army units moved in to surround and cut off the protesters' main camp, meeting heavy resistance from the Red Shirts resulting in the deaths of two people with dozens more injured.

During the clashes, France 24 journalist Nelson Rand was "gravely wounded" by bullets from a Thai Army assault rifle, although who actually used the weapon is still unknown.

[32] As of 6:00 pm 14 May, the BBC reported that seven people had died and over 100 were wounded in the latest violence in Bangkok, as Canada announced the temporary closure of its embassy.

There were several incidents of police officers joining with the Red Shirts and exchanging fire with the Thai Army, prompting fears that a civil war was coming.

Due to food and water shortages as a result of the army blockade, it was estimated the protesters would only be able to hold out for a few more days, and after that have to start plundering the available local shops.

The Red Shirt leaders started telling the public that the foreign media, such as CNN, BBC, Reuters, and many others, cannot be trusted as they are biased, prompting a backlash of their international followers.

[46] On 19 May, the army launched an all-out assault using APCs and breached Red Shirt barricades, leaving at least five dead along Ratchadamri Road leading up to Ratchaprasong, including Italian freelance photojournalist Fabio Polenghi.

Red Shirts also gathered in front of provincial halls in other provinces in response to the news of the crackdowns in Bangkok and were met by military personnel.

[51][52] In Bangkok, there were arson attacks at the Central World mall and at least two other shopping centres, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and various banks, a TV station, and a cinema, which burned to the ground.

[citation needed] Two Red Shirts were accused of setting fire at the Central World mall, but were acquitted three years later due to a lack of witnesses.

Phongchalit and a Pilot Officer Aphichat Songyong (เรืออากาศตรีอภิชาติ ซ้งย้ง), aged 26, were wearing plainclothes and driving an unmarked Vigo pickup truck to the Sala Daeng Intersection checkpoint at high speed.

[60] In May 2013, the results of a lengthy investigation in Thailand revealed that Fabio Polenghi, 48 years old at the time of his death, was felled by a 5.56 mm (M16) bullet from a soldier's weapon and was running away at the moment he was killed.

[71] After the surrender of the protest leaders, dozens of arson attacks occurred throughout the nation, including Central World shopping center and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

[73] According to US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, "...the TRCT's final report seems to give a balanced treatment to both sides involved in the political violence two years ago—alleging that both the UDD and government security forces, including the military, were responsible for escalating the situation.