The Patongprathankiriwat School in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla province was seized by panic on Wednesday afternoon, when a teenager with guns invaded a campus near dismissal time. The incident, which prompted a huge response by special operations units, was put down, hours later, when the suspect was handcuffed.
The Attack: Shots Fired at Dismissal
The violence started at about 3:00 PM local time, at times when students were getting ready to leave for the day. Several rounds of gunfire have reportedly been heard by witnesses, who were rapidly ordered to evacuate in a tangle of pandemonium. While the majority of the students got away, several teachers and students remained inside as the gunman took a position in one of the school buildings. Social media platforms had posted videos that showed students fleeing in terror and huddled in nearby shops and residential homes as police barricaded the surrounding area.
The standoff and hostage situation
The 18-year-old assailant held an unspecified number of people hostage after the initial shooting. Assisted by provincial special operations forces and rescue units, the Hat Yai Police Station quickly surrounded this building. Local administrative personnel as well as several people in negotiations were called in to talk with this gunman. During late afternoon long negotiations that continued right through to the late afternoon, the Deputy Superintendent Wichian Soboon confirmed that the man had been captured alive.
Casualties and Aftermath
Although initial reports raised the possibility of a higher toll, the police have now said three people were injured in the attack. The victims have not been identified, but they were swiftly escorted to a nearby hospital and are said to be in stable condition. Thankfully, officials said all hostages were safely freed, though many are now being treated for acute psychological shock. The school has shut down until further notice and has sent trauma counselors to work alongside the families.
Motive and Investigation
The suspect (18-year-old male) is being interrogated now. Although insurgency related violence in southern provinces of Thailand has a history in this department, preliminary findings indicate that something like this might also be an uncommon occurrence. The police are already looking into how the teen got the gun and whether he had any previous ties to the school.
