In brief
A 14‑year‑old gunman opened fire at Debsirin School, killing five teachers, injuring more than 30 and then taking his own life. Witnessed by a seventh‑grader, the attack involved a 9‑mm handgun believed to belong to the gunman’s grandfather. Thai authorities point to academic pressure and a widespread unlicensed firearms culture as possible motives, while the incident reignites debate over gun‑control laws. The tragedy follows a February school siege and a 1978 nursery massacre, highlighting rising violence in Thai schools.
A 14‑year‑old school shooter carried out one of Thailand’s worst school attacks on Friday, killing five teachers and injuring more than 30 people, including students and staff. The incident left the community in shock and has reinvigorated calls for tighter gun control.
According to police, the gunman entered the school early in the morning, moving from room to room while firing a 9‑mm handgun believed to have come from his grandfather. He targeted teachers and students and also shot his grandparents before turning the weapon on himself.
One seventh‑grader, who spoke to the BBC while escorted out of the building, described the terror: “I was standing in front of the teacher when she was shot.” She has since recovered but retains the memory of the gunshots.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul noted that academic pressures and a culture of relentless competition may help explain the school child’s extreme behavior. Confidence in gun‑control regulations is under question after authorities revealed that about a million Thai citizens possess unlicensed firearms.
The incident follows a February school siege and a 1978 nursery massacre that together highlight rising violence in Thai schools. The government faces mounting pressure from opposition parties and civil society groups to enact stricter firearms restrictions and enhance security at schools.
