Tragedy in Thailand: Seven Killed, 15 Wounded in School Shooting Near Bangkok
Student gunman among the dead in Nonthaburi attack.
Bangkok — A devastating act of violence has shaken Thailand after a student opened fire at a school on the outskirts of the capital, leaving at least seven people dead and 15 others wounded before taking his own life.
The shooting erupted on Friday at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok. Terrified students fled the campus as emergency crews rushed to the scene to treat the wounded.
National Police spokesperson Lt. Col. Trirong Phophan confirmed that the suspected gunman was among those killed. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong stated that both students and teachers were among the victims. Authorities have identified the shooter as a student at the school, though no motive has yet been disclosed.
A Scene of Chaos and Heartbreak
An 18-year-old student who witnessed the attack described the terrifying moments when the gunfire began. “I didn’t think it was a gun at first,” he recounted. “There were many shots: bang bang bang. Then it went quiet. Then it started again.”
Emergency responder Kiatikhun Verapongpradith said his team arrived while the shooting was still underway, treating students suffering gunshot wounds to the back, chest, and arms.
Responders discovered a male teacher dead on an upper floor of the school building, and later found a female teacher with serious wounds to her chest and arm. “We gave CPR for about 30 minutes and rushed her to the hospital as we could not get her heart rate up, but we tried our best,” Kiatikhun said.
A Growing National Concern
Friday’s massacre marks Thailand’s second school shooting this year, deepening public alarm over gun violence and the safety of students across the Southeast Asian nation.
As the country mourns its dead, authorities face mounting pressure to uncover the circumstances that drove a student to carry out such a horrific attack, and to ensure that places of learning never again become scenes of slaughter.
Reference: Al-Mayadeen