A crowd of angry protesters hurled shoes and plastic bottles at the Thai prime minister after cornering him in an underground car park. Somchai Wongsawat's security agents and police shielded him from the flying foowear and huddled him into a waiting car, which sped off in a motorcade.
The protest was staged by more than 100 employees of the state-owned telecom operator TOT during a visit by Somchai to their headquarters outside the capital Bangkok.
It marked the first time in Thailand's months of political crisis that state employees have come into direct confrontation with the prime minister.
It was not, however, the first time that Somchai has had to make a quick getaway.
On October 7, Somchai escaped a violent protest outside Parliament by climbing over a back fence to safety.
Riot police outside the building fired tear gas to disperse rowdy protesters, leaving hundreds injured and two dead.
Somchai's motorcade had today detoured into an underground car park lot to avoid a crowd shouting "Somchai, Murderer!" in reference to the October 7 disturbances.
Protesters swarmed around him in the parking lot, waving noisy plastic clappers shaped like giant hands.
After holding a meeting inside the building, Somchai left through the main entrance, where more protesters had gathered.
Some hurled clappers at his entourage and plastic water bottles and shoes.
Throwing shoes is particularly insulting in Thai culture, which considers feet the dirtiest part of the body.
Somchai, who took office last month, has come under growing pressure to step down to ease Thailand's deepening political crisis.
He is a brother-in-law of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, around whom the crisis revolves.
Former Manchester City owner Thaksin was convicted of corruption and sentenced to two years in prison in a landmark ruling yesterday.
But he is currently living in self-imposed exile in London and most Thais doubt he will ever serve time behind bars.
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