BANGKOK — A gunman shot and killed his grandparents earlier than killing six folks and himself at a college exterior Bangkok on Friday, authorities in Thailand mentioned, within the Southeast Asian nation’s worst mass killing since 2022.
Three academics and three college students have been killed within the taking pictures at Debsirin Nonthaburi Faculty within the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, in line with police. A minimum of 15 others have been injured, together with two in important situation.
Police mentioned the gunman, whom they recognized as a pupil, had fired a minimum of 26 rounds and that 34 different rounds of ammunition have been discovered on the scene. They mentioned that they had recovered a 9mm handgun believed to belong to his grandfather.
One 18-year-old pupil advised Reuters that initially he thought he was listening to firecrackers.
“Then it began getting extra frequent, like ‘bang, bang, bang’ after which it went quiet at one level,” the unnamed pupil mentioned. “And the taking pictures began once more.”
In a press release, the varsity mentioned the taking pictures had “shaken the hearts” of scholars, mother and father, academics and others.
The federal government mentioned Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had directed related businesses to supply speedy and complete assist to all these affected.
“We rushed to look after the injured and I’ve dispatched the related personnel to deal with the state of affairs on the website,” he advised reporters. “That is very horrible, it’s one thing that ought to not have occurred.”
It’s the second faculty taking pictures in Thailand this yr.
One instructor was killed and a pupil was injured in February at a college within the southern district of Hat Yai.
Lately there was a collection of lethal shootings at faculties and different areas in Thailand, the place gun possession is widespread.
Final yr, six folks have been killed when a person opened fireplace at a Bangkok market earlier than taking his personal life.
In 2023, a 14-year-old killed two folks and injured 5 others in a taking pictures at a luxurious mall in Bangkok.
The earlier yr, a former police officer killed 36 folks throughout a three-hour taking pictures and stabbing spree within the nation’s northeast. Amongst his victims have been 22 youngsters he stabbed at a day care middle.
A Thai soldier additionally killed 29 folks in a taking pictures rampage within the northeastern metropolis of Nakhon Ratchasima in 2020.
After the 2023 mall taking pictures, Anutin, who was inside minister on the time, enacted a one-year ban on the difficulty of latest private gun licenses and suspended public carry permits, amongst different gun management measures. The suspension of public carry permits was prolonged earlier this yr.
“That is the rationale why the federal government doesn’t permit arm carrying and extension of gun licenses,” Anutin mentioned Friday. “That is the rationale why.”
As of 2017 Thai civilians have been estimated to own about 10.3 million firearms, or about 15 per 100 residents, in line with the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss group that favors gun management. That in contrast with greater than 393 million firearms in civilian possession in america, or 120.5 per 100 residents.
Nat Sumon reported from Bangkok, and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.
