Two men were killed and a woman was seriously injured by an intruder who woke them up and slashed their throats in the early hours of on Sunday morning, escaping before police arrived, officials said.
Siem Reap City police chief Tith Narong said the victims had spent the night celebrating New Year’s Eve with their colleagues at an organic food distribution company, returning home between 10 p.m. and midnight.
“We have identified the suspect and we will arrest them soon,” he said, declining to give any further details.
Duong Sokha, chief of the provincial police’s serious crimes department, said multiple suspects had been identified. He pledged to make an arrest soon, but declined to comment further.
The victims—Vet Ratha, 25, from Banteay Meanchey province, his friend Khuy Sokhin, 27, from Kampot province, and Mr. Sokhin’s wife, Leng Sreypov,17, from Takeo province—had been sleeping in the same room of their rented house in Siem Reap City when they were attacked sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., said Svay Dangkum commune police chief Sou Vandet.
“We arrived at about 6:15 a.m. after being informed about the case by neighbors,” he said. “It had only recently happened because blood was still flowing” from the victims when police officers reached the house.
The victims’ jewelry and other valuables had been left behind, Mr. Vandet said, leading police to believe the attack was an act of revenge.
“We are burning our hands and legs in investigating this case,” he said, adding that authorities had questioned the victims’ landlord and co-workers, as well as Ms. Sreypov, who remained conscious despite her injuries.
Ms. Sreypov sustained deep cuts to her neck and right shoulder during the attack, and was recovering on Sunday at the provincial referral hospital after being taken there by neighbors in the immediate aftermath of the crime, Mr. Vandet said.
Pen Phalkun, director of the hospital, said Ms. Sreypov was in a serious condition, but was still able to speak to doctors who were monitoring her closely.
“She is still feeling shocked and weak because she lost a lot of blood,” he said.
