Overview
A grave incident unfolded at a school in southern Thailand, where a gunman burst in and began shooting with an assault rifle. The shocking event left many students terrified as they were taken hostage, prompting a strong law enforcement response.
Incident Details
The attacker entered Patong Prathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai, located in the Songkhla province, on Wednesday, injuring at least three individuals, including the headmaster, according to police reports.
In a chaotic scene, pupils fled onto the surrounding streets as armed officers surrounded the building and initiated negotiations with the suspect, who was captured on video calmly walking through the school with his weapon, accompanied by a young woman believed to be a teacher.
Approximately 300 students were present at the school at the time of the incident. Fortunately, all hostages have been safely released.
The gunman was eventually subdued by law enforcement and taken into custody.
Footage from the scene depicted victims being loaded into ambulances while visibly shaken students exited the building.
According to an escaped security guard, the headmaster sustained a gunshot wound.
‘A bullet grazed my stomach, but I managed to escape,’ he noted. ‘The school director was shot. Children were still being held inside.’
This is the dramatic moment a school shooter who opened fire with a machine gun was wrestled to the ground by police
The gunman stormed a school in southern Thailand and opened fire with an assault rifle, injuring at least three people
The gunman was seen on video calmly striding through the school holding the weapon alongside a young woman, believed to be a teacher
Pupils fled onto surrounding roads as armed officers surrounded the building and began negotiations with the suspect
Background Context
Police in the Thung Lung district reported that the suspect, who is believed to be 18 years old, was behaving erratically and threatening to harm his mother just prior to the assault at the school.
When authorities arrived, the individual allegedly armed himself with an M4 rifle, proceeded to the school, opened fire, seriously wounding the headmaster, and then took hostages, including a teacher and students.
Thailand is known for its high levels of gun ownership and homicide rates related to firearms among Southeast Asian countries. A significant number of these firearms are reportedly sold by government and police officials, who have the ability to purchase and sell at discounted rates due to the government’s ‘gun welfare programme.’
This ongoing gun culture is believed to arise from a general mistrust of crime control measures, especially in rural regions.
Despite pledges from Thai authorities to strengthen gun control laws, there are roughly 4 million unregistered firearms in circulation, with many smuggled in from conflict zones, according to the Ministry of Interior in 2023.
Previous incidents include a tragic event in September when a disgruntled husband shot his estranged wife in Chiang Rai and then took his own life. In July, another individual killed five people in Bangkok before turning the gun on himself, reportedly over a long-standing grievance.
Key Takeaways
- A gunman took hostages at Patong Prathan Kiriwat School in Thailand, injuring at least three.
- All hostages have been freed, and the gunman has been apprehended.
- Approximately 300 students were present during the incident.
- The gunman’s actions stemmed from erratic behavior prior to the attack.
- Gun ownership and violence remain significant issues in Thailand.
- Authorities are facing challenges in controlling unregistered firearms in circulation.
FAQ
What motivated the gunman?
The gunman reportedly displayed erratic behavior and made threats to his mother prior to entering the school.
How many people were injured in the incident?
At least three individuals, including the headmaster, were injured during the attack.
What is the current state of gun control in Thailand?
Thailand has a high rate of gun ownership and violence, with many unregistered firearms believed to be in circulation.
This incident raises significant concerns about safety in schools and the broader issues related to gun control in Thailand. Continuous efforts are needed from authorities to address these pressing issues.
