CHIANG MAI — Police are searching for a foreign tourist accused of vandalizing the historic wall of Wat Lam Chang, a 14th-century temple in the heart of Chiang Mai’s old city. The suspect, identified as a U.S. national, reportedly spray-painted graffiti on the temple wall and has since fled the province by plane.

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The incident was reported Tuesday morning by the temple’s abbot, who filed an official complaint with Chiang Mai city police. According to the abbot, the act of vandalism occurred around midnight, when the outer wall along Ratchapakhinai Road was found defaced with black spray paint. The graffiti included English text and a crude house-like symbol, positioned alarmingly close to a mural of an elephant created by a local artist.

Wat Lam Chang, believed to be over 650 years old and founded during the reign of King Mangrai—the founder of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom—has become a repeated target of vandalism in recent years. Temple officials have previously invested heavily in repainting defaced walls and had installed CCTV cameras around the site following similar acts of damage.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows a foreign man arriving alone on a motorcycle and spray-painting the temple’s exterior. Subsequent inquiries revealed the man was an American tourist who left Chiang Mai shortly after the incident. Police are now working with immigration authorities to trace his travel records and determine his current whereabouts.

The abbot of Wat Lam Chang has expressed firm intent to pursue legal action and emphasized that the temple will not accept any private settlement or compensation. He called for accountability and stronger protections for Thailand’s sacred and historical landmarks.

This latest act of vandalism has reignited public concern over the safeguarding of cultural heritage in tourist-heavy areas. Officials and local residents have called for tougher enforcement, increased surveillance, and greater awareness campaigns to prevent further damage to historically significant sites.

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No arrests have been made in connection with this or earlier cases of vandalism at Wat Lam Chang. Investigations are ongoing.

-Thailand News (TN)