A tragic school shooting in Thailand’s Nonthaburi province north of Bangkok has left four people dead, including two students and two teachers, and at least 15 others injured, authorities said on Friday.
The shooting occurred at a popular high school in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi, shaking the country and reigniting concerns over gun violence and school safety in Thailand. Police, medical teams and local officials were among those who responded, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said.
Early reports from local broadcaster Thai PBS said between 10 and 15 people had been injured in the incident. Four people died in the incident, the government said later. The victims were two students and two teachers, who were at the school site at the time of the attack.
Many of the injuries were not directly caused by gunfire, he said. Rather, many were injured as students fled the school in panic after the shooting. Students and staff rushed to safety after hearing the gunshots, when stampedes and accidental injuries were reported as they ran away from the danger.
Suspected Shooter Identified as Ninth-Grade Student
According to Dechrapee Kongdee, chief of the Nonthaburi provincial police, the suspected gunman was a ninth-grade student enrolled at the school. The teenager is also dead, but details of the suspect's death have not been revealed yet.
Investigators are trying to determine the motive behind the attack and are looking at the events leading up to the shooting. Police have secured the school campus and launched a comprehensive investigation, including interviews with witnesses, students, teachers, and family members.
Law enforcement officials are working to determine how the teenager obtained the weapon used in the attack. The findings are expected to play a key role in future discussions about firearm legislation.
The Nation Shocked by Another School Shooting
The incident has engendered widespread grief and concern in Thailand, where school shootings are relatively rare but have become a growing public safety concern in recent years. Parents, educators and community leaders have called for stronger security measures in schools and more attention to student mental health.
Thailand has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Southeast Asia. Estimates suggest that around 10 million firearms are in circulation across the country, or roughly one gun for every seven residents. Despite repeated government promises to strengthen firearm regulations and enhance gun control measures, firearms are still a problem.
Previous School and Mass Shooting Incidents
The latest tragedy follows another school shooting earlier this year. In February, police shot and arrested a teenage student who allegedly opened fire at a school in southern Thailand, killing the principal and two students.
Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting took place in 2022 when a former police officer attacked a childcare centre in northeastern Thailand in a violent attack. Armed with a gun and a knife, the attacker killed 36 people, including 24 children, and shocked the nation and drew international attention.
Calls for Action
The Nonthaburi school shooting has reignited discussions about gun ownership, school security and youth mental health in Thailand. Gun control laws and better counselling programs, early intervention programs and safety protocols in schools need to be improved to prevent such incidents, industry experts say.
The family members of the victims have expressed their condolences, and support is extended to them. Students, teachers and families are being offered counselling on the aftermath of the tragedy.
Thailand is grieving for yet another devastating act of violence, which has left families grieving and communities searching for answers. We hope to get more details later on the investigation.
