A 14-year-old student at Debsirin School outside Bangkok shot and killed five teachers and injured more than 30 people on Friday. The perpetrator then turned the weapon on himself. This tragic event also saw the student gun down his grandparents earlier the same day.
The incident unfolded as final classes were underway, causing panic among students who streamed out of the prestigious institution. A shaken seventh-grader recounted standing in front of her teacher when the shooting began. She described the shooter stalking from room to room.
This mass shooting is Thailand's deadliest in years and the second at a school this year. In February, an 18-year-old gunman attacked a school in southern Thailand. Four years ago, a separate incident in Nong Bua Lamphu province resulted in 37 deaths, mostly preschoolers. These repeated tragedies highlight a persistent issue with gun violence in the country.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suggested that study pressures might have played a role in the recent shooting. He noted that the shooter's grandmother, a teacher, might have been strict with him. Police are investigating the motive and believe the 9mm handgun used belonged to the grandfather.
The incident has intensified calls for stricter gun control measures in Thailand. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the opposition People's Party, emphasized the need for a systematic review of gun control. He stated that educational institutions should be among the safest places in society.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership globally, with over seven million people believed to own guns. More than one million of these owners are unlicensed. Despite restrictions on gun licenses, weapons remain relatively easy to acquire, both legally and illegally.
A thriving black market, facilitated by Thailand's porous land borders, contributes to the problem. Corruption and loose regulation within the police and military also allow weapons to fall into the wrong hands. Prime Minister Anutin had tightened regulations three years ago as interior minister, suspending new gun permits. However, gun crime remains rampant, with gunshot deaths among the highest in the region.
Rescue worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, 47, described seeing students with gunshot wounds to their arms, backs, and chests. Paramedics rushed the wounded to hospitals as crowds gathered outside the school. A grieving teacher, 31, shared that a friend who taught at the same school was among the deceased.
Authorities will face many questions in the coming days regarding this crime. The incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive gun control reform to prevent future tragedies in Thai schools.