Middle Schooler Opens Fire at Elite Thai School, Killing at Least 7

A teenage middle school student shot and killed his grandparents before opening fire at a school in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok, Thailand, on the 7th local time, leaving at least 5 school staff members dead.

According to Thai police, a 14-year-old student attending Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province first killed his grandparents at his home using his grandfather's handgun, and then traveled several kilometers to the school to carry out the shooting.

Police told the AP and AFP wire services that 5 school staff members, including teachers, were killed and 23 others were injured in the incident.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited the school in an emergency after the incident, stated that 9 of the injured are in critical condition, meaning the death toll could potentially rise.

The suspect fired at least 26 shots at the school, and 26 spent shell casings along with 34 live rounds were found at the scene.

After the shooting spree, the suspect reportedly barricaded himself on the third floor of a school building to stage a standoff, blocking police from entering before taking his own life.

Photos and videos posted by local media and on social media captured the suspect wearing a purple uniform and a black cross-body bag, as well as students fleeing classrooms, hiding under desks, and crawling out of windows onto narrow ledges outside the building during the attack.

Police are investigating the details and motives of the crime by questioning the suspect's father and others.

In connection with this, Prime Minister Anutin explained, "Police questioned close friends of the suspect and obtained statements indicating that the suspect was experiencing stress related to the school," adding, "Judging by his actions, it appears he clearly planned this incident."

He also remarked, "It is horrifying that such a thing has happened," and expressed deep sorrow for the victims and the fact that such an event occurred in the country.

Furthermore, he directed relevant authorities to take measures to support the victims and emphasized that he will introduce gun control legislation to restrict the carrying of firearms by civilians other than on-duty public officials.

According to AFP, about 10 mental health experts arrived at the school on the day, and the Thai Ministry of Education announced that it would provide mental health support to students at the school and strengthen security measures at educational institutions.

Bloomberg reported that this incident is the deadliest mass killing in Thailand since the October 2022 tragedy in which a former police officer used a gun and knife to kill 37 people, including about 20 children, at a daycare center in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu.

In Thailand, considered one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the widest proliferation of firearms, major violent gun incidents occasionally occur.

Last February, a 17-year-old boy carrying a gun staged a hostage situation at a high school in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla province in southern Thailand, ultimately shooting and killing the school's principal and injuring a female student.

It is estimated that about 10 million firearms are in circulation in Thailand, roughly one gun for every 7 people.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.