Seven dead as teenage boy goes on shooting spree in Thailand

Seven persons have been killed and over 30 have been injured after a 14-year-old boy shot dead his relatives and teachers in his home and school located on the outskirt of the Thailand capital city, Bangkok.

According to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaking at a press conference, the attacker killed his grandparents and five teachers before committing suicide. At the time of committing suicide, the attacker “still had more than 30 bullets,” said the PM.

The number of persons who are wounded in the incident and are now in critical condition is nine, officials added.

The school where the massacre took place is the branch of the famed Debsirin School in Thailand.

Security personnel were rushed to the scene when the shooting spree was underway.

According to the national police chief general Kittiratt Phanphet, forensic officers found that the shots fired by the killer were pretty accurate as he hit the target spots on the body of his victims.

PM said that the act of murder was “very well-prepared with clear steps and clear goals.”

People were previously asked to avoid the place and told to stay indoors if stuck inside the building while waiting for rescue. Police at one point even warned through a social media post that the gunman was within the school’s computer room.

Established in Bangkok in 1885, Debsirin School is among Thailand’s best secondary schools with branches all over the nation. It boasts of notable individuals as some of its past students who include diplomats, sportspeople, and even prime ministers.

According to a seventh grader, who managed to escape the building, she was inside the class when she saw the gunman roaming from room to room.

Once he arrived at her class, he shot the teacher near the door entrance. She further said that she could not see any other thing after that.

Another student told Reuters that he first thought that the gunshot sounds were those of crackers being exploded or a piece of object being banged.

“There were many shots: bang bang bang. Then it became silent. Then it started all over again.”

The 9mm revolver used by the gunman belongs to the former teacher and grandfather of the gunman.

Students and teachers were seen running away from the scene, while people waiting outside the Debsirin School appeared to be very distressed.

In another post on social media, the school announced a request for blood donations.

Other schools in the neighborhood also cancelled classes so that students may go home earlier.

“The government wishes to offer their condolences to those who lost their lives in the shooting incident. This shouldn’t have happened, and this is why the government does not allow citizens to keep firearms,” said PM Charnvirakul.

“Not only do I feel sympathy for the victims but I am also saddened by this unfortunate event. Why should this happen in our country,” he added.

Thailand has very strict gun laws where anyone found illegally possessing guns would be imprisoned up to ten years. But there is the problem of enforcing these laws.

It is believed that Thailand has the highest number of civilian-owned guns in Southeast Asia, with almost 40% of them being illegal.