At least seven people were killed and 23 others injured after a 14-year-old student opened fire at a home and later at his school in the outskirts of Bangkok, Thai authorities said.
The gunman, a student at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, allegedly killed his grandparents at their home before going to the school, where five teachers were shot dead. The teenager then died by suicide, according to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The prime minister said the attacker still had more than 30 rounds of ammunition when he turned the weapon on himself. Nine of those injured remain in critical condition.
The shooting began shortly after 10 a.m. local time, prompting police to respond while the attack was still underway. National police chief Kittiratt Phanphet said forensic officers had determined that the gunman’s shots were highly accurate, with several victims suffering injuries to vital areas.
Anutin described the attack as “well prepared,” saying it appeared to have involved clear steps and objectives. Authorities have not publicly identified the teenager and have not established a motive, although the prime minister said the student may have been under stress related to his studies.
Police continued investigating the incident, including searches at the home where the teenager allegedly killed his grandparents. Officers were seen removing computer equipment and boxes from the property.
The attack has renewed concerns over gun violence in Thailand and pressure on the government to strengthen enforcement of firearms regulations. It is reportedly the second school shooting in the country this year.
Students and school staff fled the scene as the shooting unfolded. One seventh-grade student told the BBC that she had been standing in front of her teacher when the gunman appeared and shot her.
“He was walking from room to room,” the student said, describing how she and other classmates climbed over the school fence to escape. Her mother said the girl feared she would not survive.
Another student told Reuters that he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks.
Authorities urged people to stay away from the area and instructed those trapped inside the school to hide and wait for rescue teams. Nearby schools suspended classes early, while Debsirin School later appealed for blood donations.
Anutin expressed condolences to the victims and said the tragedy “should never have happened,” questioning how such an incident could have occurred despite Thailand’s firearms restrictions.
Thailand has strict laws governing illegal firearm possession, with offenders facing prison sentences of up to 10 years. However, enforcement remains a challenge. Police have not suggested that the firearm used in the attack — reportedly belonging to the teenager’s grandfather — was illegally obtained.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, with estimates suggesting that around 40% of civilian firearms are unregistered or otherwise illegal.
