At least seven people were killed, including the gunman, when a student opened fire at a school in Thailand on Friday, August 7, before turning the gun on himself, according to a national police official. The incident occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok.
Shooting Details and Immediate Response
Photos shared by emergency workers showed students streaming out of the school premises as the wounded were loaded onto ambulances. Teachers were seen hugging each other and crying. One person was observed lying on a stretcher outside an ambulance, while another received medical attention from a medic.
An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he initially thought the gunshots were firecrackers or someone banging an object. "I didn't think it was a gun at first," he said. "There were many shots: bang bang bang. Then it went quiet. Then it started again."
Casualties and Official Statements
Lt. Col. Trirong Phophan, a spokesman for the National Police, confirmed that the suspected shooter was among the seven people killed. He added that fifteen people were injured. Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong told Reuters that both teachers and students were among those reported dead. Police identified the perpetrator as a student.
Emergency worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, 47, described arriving at the scene while the shooting was ongoing. His team treated students with injuries to the back, chest, and arms. They found a male teacher lying dead on an upper floor of the school, and in another room, a female teacher with wounds in 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," Verapongpradith said.
Government Response and Context
Deputy Education Minister Akkharanan Kannakittinan said in a statement that he was coordinating to provide assistance to the victims and their families. This incident marks the second school shooting in Thailand this year, following a February incident in the south of the country where a teacher died and a student was injured.
The tragedy has raised concerns about school safety in Thailand, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and mental health support for students. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack, though no official statement has been released regarding the shooter's possible reasons.
