A crazed German tourist was arrested for allegedly threatening his neighbours with an axe in Thailand.

George Richo Resch, 64, from Frensdorf in Bamberg, reportedly went on a rampage, brandishing knives and an axe at passers-by in the Soi Naya area of Phuket island on April 5.

Police acting on the reports converged on his house with a search warrant.

Wearing body armour and helmets, a SWAT team and tourist police confronted the German, who locked himself inside the house and threatened them that he would 'fight them to the death' if they entered.

He also started throwing objects out into the street.

The cops filed into the home and found the screaming foreigner holding an axe. When attempts to calm him failed, police charged and subdued him in his bedroom.

Chalong police said George was a 'danger to society and the general public'.

He was found to have overstayed in Thailand for 500 days, and may be banned from re-entering the country for 10 years.

He was detained at the Chalong Police Station for further legal action.

Police Colonel Kunadech Na Nongkhai, superintendent of Karon Police Station, said: 'The German has been held in custody. He will be deported for visa offences.'