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Debsirin Nonthaburi attack
A 14-year-old student opened fire at Debsirin School in the Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province, killing at least seven people and injuring more than a dozen others, before shooting himself, Thai police said.
“Five school staff members, including teachers and administrators, died in the shooting around 10 a.m.”
Police said the gunman first killed his grandparents at their home using a handgun belonging to his grandfather, then went to the school where he was a pupil and opened fire around 10 a.m., according to AP and BBC.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called the attack "premeditated" and said the alleged shooter "carried lots of pressure and tension," while police said five teachers were shot at the school before the suspect shot himself.
Casualty figures varied across outlets, with AP saying five school staff members died and that Bangyai Hospital reported 23 wounded, while the BBC said the shooting left at least seven dead and five teachers killed before the suspect turned the weapon on himself.
The BBC also reported that the school announced it will be closed next week and that classes will be suspended between 10 and 14 August, with staff instructed to work from home during that time.
Stress, gun law pledges
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the suspect was "under stress" and appeared to have planned the assault, and he vowed to propose a new law to restrict the carrying of firearms by the public, the BBC reported.
ABC News quoted the prime minister calling the shooting "premeditated" and saying the alleged shooter "carried lots of pressure and tension," while police identified the suspect as a 14-year-old student.
A 31-year-old teacher who asked not to be named described hearing gunshots and screaming pupils, telling the BBC: "One of the teachers killed...was my friend."
Students and witnesses described panic and hiding during the attack, and the BBC reported that an English teacher, To Prompong Namwong, told it he heard other teachers shouting "mass shooting" and told his students to hide underneath the tables.
The BBC also said the Higher Education minister donated blood at a hospital near the school and urged the public to do the same, as police collected evidence including removing computer equipment from the dwelling.
Aftermath and what’s at risk
In the aftermath, Thai authorities and the school moved to suspend classes, with the BBC saying the Debsirin secondary school announced all classes will be suspended between 10 and 14 August and staff would work from home during that time.
“all classes will be suspended between 10 and 14 August”
Police and first responders continued to investigate the gunman’s access to the weapon, with the BBC reporting that police were pictured collecting evidence at the house where the suspect lived, including removing computer equipment from the dwelling.
The shooting also intensified debate over firearms rules, with the BBC saying Charnvirakul vowed to propose a new law to restrict the carrying of firearms by the public, while ABC News reported the alleged gunman used his grandfather's registered gun to carry out the attack.
Casualty reporting remained unsettled across sources, with the BBC saying at least 30 people were injured and at least nine believed to be severely wounded, while AP reported 23 wounded with 10 in critical condition at Bangyai Hospital.
CNN reported that Thai authorities pledged financial compensation to victims’ families, including 20,000 Thai Baht (USD $600) for each victim who lost their life and 5,000 Thai Baht (USD $150) for each person who sustained injuries, as UNICEF called for better mental health services for children following the attack.
