A 14-year-old student initiated a deadly shooting spree at the Debsirin School near Bangkok on a Friday morning, leaving five teachers dead and over a dozen people wounded. Before the school attack, the teenager had already killed his grandparents. The assailant ultimately took his own life after the rampage.
A seventh-grade pupil described the terrifying experience to the BBC, noting she was speaking with her teacher when the shooter approached and fired. Fearing for her life, she and other students escaped by climbing over the school perimeter fence. Another witness, an 18-year-old student, initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers until the repeated volleys confirmed the severity of the situation.
Paramedics and emergency personnel, including rescue worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, treated victims suffering from arm, back, and chest wounds on-site. Authorities noted the shooter, described as an avid gamer with good grades, utilized a 9mm handgun belonging to his grandfather. Forensic analysis indicated the shots were notably accurate, targeting vital areas.
This tragedy marks Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting in years, reigniting national debates over high rates of gun ownership and the ease of accessing illegal weapons. Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut called for a systematic review of gun control policies, emphasizing that schools must remain safe spaces for children.
