Post by : Badri Ariffin

A 14-year-old student killed at least six people before taking his own life during a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, on Friday. Police said the teenager had earlier fatally shot his grandparents before carrying out the attack at the school.

The incident is Thailand's deadliest mass killing since 2022 and left a total of seven people dead, including the suspected shooter. Authorities also confirmed that 15 people were injured.

Students and Teachers Caught in the Attack

As the shooting unfolded, students rushed out of the school while emergency teams transported the injured to hospitals. Teachers were seen comforting one another outside the campus as rescue workers responded to the emergency.

Images shared by emergency personnel showed victims receiving medical treatment outside ambulances, while others were placed on stretchers before being taken for further care.

An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he initially believed the loud noises were firecrackers or someone hitting 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."

Police Reveal Details About the Suspect

Lieutenant General Trairong Phophan, spokesperson for the National Police, said the suspected gunman was among the seven people who died during the incident.

Police said the teenager fired at least 26 rounds during the attack and was found with another 34 rounds of ammunition. Investigators confirmed that the firearm belonged to his grandfather.

Authorities identified the suspect as a student at the school.

Teachers and Students Among Victims

Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said both teachers and students were among those killed and injured in the attack.

Emergency worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, 47, said his team arrived while the shooting was still taking place. Rescue personnel treated several students who had injuries to their backs, chests, and arms.

He said responders found a male teacher dead on an upper floor of the school. In another room, they discovered a female teacher with gunshot wounds to her chest and arm.

Kiatikhun said emergency workers later responded after hearing what appeared to be the final gunshot. "We rushed up and found that the perpetrator had shot himself in the right side of the head and collapsed. When we got up there, we checked his pulse, he still had one, so we started CPR."

The injured suspect was then taken to hospital, he added.

School Population and Official Response

District authorities said Debsirin Nonthaburi School had around 3,100 students and 147 teachers during the 2025 academic year.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed sorrow over the tragedy. "This is terrible for something like this to happen. I'm sad for those who died and sad for something like this to happen in our country."

Second School Shooting in Thailand This Year

Friday's attack marked the second shooting at a Thai school in 2026.

Earlier this year, in February, a teacher was killed and a student was injured after a gunman opened fire at a school in southern Thailand.

Thailand's Recent History of Mass Shootings

Thailand has experienced several major shooting incidents in recent years, with gun violence remaining a serious concern.

The country's deadliest mass killing by a single attacker in recent history occurred in 2022, when a former police officer carried out a gun and knife attack lasting about three hours in northeastern Thailand. The assault killed 36 people, including 22 children at a daycare centre.

In July 2025, a gunman killed five people, including security guards and a vendor, at a market in Bangkok before taking his own life.

In 2020, a soldier killed 29 people during a shooting rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima.

In 2023, another 14-year-old used a modified handgun to kill two people and injure five others at a luxury shopping centre in Bangkok.

Gun Control Measures Introduced After 2023 Attack

Following the 2023 Bangkok shopping centre shooting, Anutin Charnvirakul, who was serving as interior minister at the time, introduced several gun control measures.

These included a temporary suspension of new firearm licences, tighter import restrictions, and a ban preventing people under the age of 20 from using shooting ranges.

Long-term measures also required medical certificates assessing the mental and psychological condition of gun owners, along with validity periods for certain firearm licences.

According to a 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey, Thailand had approximately 10.3 million civilian-owned firearms, equal to about 15 guns for every 100 residents, the highest rate in Southeast Asia.

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