At least six people, including three teachers and three students, have been killed after a student opened fire at a secondary school in Thailand, in one of the country’s deadliest school shootings in recent years.
The attack occurred on Friday morning at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok.
Police said at least 15 other people were injured, with two victims in critical condition.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphan confirmed the death toll, adding that the suspected teenage gunman remains in critical condition and is receiving emergency medical treatment.
Authorities had initially reported that the suspect had died, but later corrected the information.
Videos verified by CNN showed terrified students hiding under classroom desks as gunshots echoed through the school, while other footage captured students fleeing the premises with the assistance of school staff during the evacuation.
The Central Investigation Bureau said the situation has been brought under control.
Investigators recovered a handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition from inside the school.
Police believe the firearm belonged to a member of the suspect’s family, although investigations are ongoing to determine how the student gained access to the weapon.
Authorities said the suspect had been living with adult relatives rather than his parents.
Emergency responders rushed to the school, transporting victims to nearby hospitals as security personnel secured the scene.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. According to the Small Arms Survey, there were more than 10.3 million civilian-owned firearms in the country as of 2017, equivalent to about 15 guns per 100 people.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly shootings in Thailand. In February, a teacher was killed and a student injured in a school shooting in Hat Yai district.
In 2022, the country witnessed its deadliest school-related attack when 36 people, including 24 children, were killed in a massacre at a childcare centre in northeastern Thailand.
Police have launched a full investigation into Friday’s shooting as authorities work to establish the motive behind the attack.
