According to a police spokeswoman, the shooting rampage that took place at a children’s daycare centre in a province in Thailand’s northeastern region resulted in the deaths of more than 30 individuals.
Police stated in a statement on Thursday that both children and adults were among the victims of the shooting, adding that the suspect was a former law enforcement officer and that a search was now underway.
Achayon Kraithong, the Major General of the Police, said that the lone shooter began fire in the middle of the town of Nong Bua Lamphu early in the afternoon.
He said that thirty individuals had been slain, but he did not have any other specifics. After the incident, the perpetrator ended his own life by shooting himself.
According to a spokeswoman for a regional public relations office, there have been a verified total of 26 deaths so far. Among the confirmed fatalities are 23 children, two instructors, and one law enforcement officer.
Tony Cheng, reporting for Al Jazeera from Bangkok, said that reports of a disturbance at a childcare center in the country’s northeast alerted emergency personnel at about 12:30pm (05:30am GMT) local time.
“It has come to our attention that the number of deaths is likely higher than 31, and that a significant proportion of them are youngsters. According to Cheng, the police pursued a suspect who fled the area in a white pick-up vehicle.
“At this moment, very little further information is available; however, the Thai media are reporting that he was removed of his duties earlier today and that he was a former Thai policeman,”
According to a statement made by a representative for the government, the prime minister had previously issued a warning to all authorities, instructing them to take action and catch the perpetrator.
In Thailand, incidents involving many persons being shot to death are very uncommon; nonetheless, in the year 2020, a soldier became enraged about a real estate transaction, went on a shooting spree, and spread out over four different places.