A deadly school shooting near Bangkok has left at least eight people dead, including a 12-year-old girl, according to local authorities. The incident unfolded on Friday when a 14-year-old student opened fire at a high school outside the Thai capital, killing several students and staff before turning the gun on himself. The attack, which took place in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok, has raised concerns about gun violence in the region.
The shooter, identified as a local teenager, reportedly killed his two grandparents at his family home earlier in the morning before heading to the school. Police confirmed that the boy shot at least six others at the school, bringing the total death toll to eight. The 12-year-old girl, who died from critical wounds, was among those killed at the school. The boy then took his own life, ending the rampage.
Family members and friends of the victims collected the bodies of the deceased from a Bangkok morgue on Saturday. Thailand, which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, has seen a rise in mass shootings in recent years. The government has yet to release further details on the motive behind the attack.
The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling the incident a tragic loss for the community. Investigations into the shooting are ongoing.
