Bangkok, Aug 8: Eight people were killed and 22 others injured after a 14-year-old boy opened fire at a school in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, authorities and local media reported.
The teenager first shot dead his 73-year-old grandfather and 74-year-old grandmother at their home at around 5 am on Friday, according to police. He then boarded a school bus carrying a gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition and went to Debsirin School, Reuters reported.
The teenager attended his first class at about 8:30 am and entered a second class at 9:20 am. About 30 minutes later, he pulled out the gun and began firing.
Police said he targeted teachers on the school’s sixth floor, killing three of them. He then shot two other people he encountered while going downstairs. Two more victims later died, including a student who succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment, bringing the death toll to eight.
Police arrived at the school after the shooting was reported. At around 10:40 am, officers found the teenager after he had shot himself.
Police said the gun and ammunition used in the attack belonged to the teenager’s grandfather. Local and international media reported that the firearm was legally registered and licensed.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced plans for tougher gun control laws following the attack.
Anutin said the government would introduce legislation banning people from carrying guns in public places, the BBC reported. Under the proposed rules, only government officials on duty would be allowed to carry firearms in public.
Anutin had previously pushed for tighter gun controls while serving as interior minister, including a temporary suspension of new firearm licences and restrictions on gun imports.
Thailand already has strict gun laws, but enforcement has remained a major challenge. Illegal possession of a firearm can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
An estimated 10.3 million guns are privately owned in Thailand, with around four million believed to be held illegally, according to reports.
National Police Chief General Kittirat Phanphet said forensic examinations indicated that the teenager fired with considerable accuracy, with several bullets striking sensitive parts of the victims’ bodies.
Anutin also said the attack appeared to have been planned, with investigators seeing what he described as “clear stages and clear targets.”
Local media reported that police examining the teenager’s electronic devices found videos related to school shootings in the United States.
Family members described the teenager as quiet and well-behaved. An uncle said he spent much of his time at home playing violent video games and rarely went outside. The family, however, said they had seen no signs that he was preparing such an attack.
Founded in Bangkok in 1885, Debsirin School is one of Thailand’s prominent secondary schools. Its alumni include diplomats, athletes and several former prime ministers.
The shooting has reignited debate over gun ownership, public safety and enforcement of firearms laws in Thailand.
Anutin has pledged to tighten restrictions on carrying firearms in public, adding fresh pressure on the government to strengthen controls over the country’s large stock of legally and illegally held guns. (Source: AP)
People’s News Monitoring Service
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