A tragic shooting rampage in Thailand's Nonthaburi province claimed at least eight lives Friday, including the teenage suspect, in what authorities are calling the Southeast Asian nation's worst mass killing since 2022.
The 14-year-old student opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on Bangkok's northwestern outskirts after first fatally shooting his grandparents at their home. Police say the teenager used his grandfather's firearm to discharge at least 26 rounds at the school, killing five staff members and injuring 23 others before turning the weapon on himself.
Chaos and Terror Unfold
Witness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the attack's opening moments. One 18-year-old student told Reuters he initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers or loud banging.
"I didn't think it was a gun at first," the student said. "There were many shots: bang bang bang. Then it went quiet. Then it started again."
Video and photos from the scene showed the school in chaos as emergency responders evacuated injured students and staff. Teachers were seen embracing one another and crying as ambulances arrived. One image captured a victim being loaded onto a stretcher while emergency medical personnel tended to the wounded.
Emergency Response Efforts
Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, a 47-year-old emergency worker who arrived during the shooting, described a gruesome scene. His team treated students with injuries to the back, chest, and arms while discovering a male teacher dead on an upper floor and a female teacher with chest and arm wounds.
After hearing a final gunshot, Verapongpradith's team rushed to find the teenage shooter with a self-inflicted head wound. Emergency responders immediately began CPR, and the suspect was transported to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Largest Attack in Four Years
Lt.-Gen. Trairong Phophan, spokesman for Thailand's National Police, confirmed the suspected shooter was among those killed at the school. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong stated that both teachers and students were among the casualties.
The Debsirin Nonthaburi School serves approximately 3,100 students and employs 147 teachers, according to district authorities.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his condolences at a press briefing.
"This is terrible for something like this to happen," the Prime Minister said. "I'm sad for those who died and sad for something like this to happen in our country."
Part of a Troubling Trend
Friday's attack marks the second school shooting in Thailand this year. In February, a teacher was killed and a student injured in a shooting in the nation's south. Over the past six years, Thailand has experienced a series of deadly shootings, with gun ownership and gun violence remaining problems in the country.
This article is based on reporting from CBC World.