Thai Prime Minister Vows Stricter Gun Laws After School Shooting Leaves Eight Dead

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to introduce new gun control laws following a shooting by a 14-year-old teenager on the outskirts of Bangkok. The attack left eight people dead and 22 others injured.

The teenager killed his grandparents at the home they shared before travelling to Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, where he was a student. At the school, he killed five teachers before taking his own life. Thai media later reported that a student had also died from their injuries, bringing the total death toll to eight.

Speaking after the attack, Prime Minister Anutin said he plans to introduce laws that restrict the carrying of firearms in public. Under the proposed legislation, only government officials on duty would be permitted to carry guns.

Details of the Attack

The teenager is believed to have shot his 73-year-old grandfather and 74-year-old grandmother at their two-storey flat at around 05:00 local time on Friday (22:00 GMT on Thursday). A Thai police official stated that each was killed by a single shot to the head.

After killing his grandparents, the teenager boarded a school bus carrying the firearm and dozens of bullets, according to a report by Reuters. He arrived at school and attended his first class at 08:30, followed by his second class at 09:20.

Around half an hour into his second class, the teenager drew the gun and began shooting. He is believed to have first shot teachers on the school's sixth floor, killing three of them.

Police Major General Dejrapee Kongdee told Reuters that the attacker then walked down the stairs and encountered the school's deputy director and the director's secretary, who were going up to check on the situation. The attacker shot and killed both of them on the staircase.

Police Response and Investigation

Police were deployed to the scene while the shooting was still ongoing. Dejrapee said officers found the attacker, who had shot himself, at around 10:40. Five people were killed immediately at the school, and at least 23 were wounded. Thailand's public broadcaster and the Bangkok Post later reported that an eighth victim had died from their injuries.

National police chief Gen Kittiratt Phanphet told reporters that forensic officers found the attacker's shots were highly accurate, with several hitting vital spots on the body. Prime Minister Anutin described the attack as "well prepared" with "clear steps and clear goals."

Police Colonel Thadsakorn Konthong said the gun and bullets used in the attack belonged to the teenager's grandfather. An initial inspection indicated that the firearm had been searched for inside the grandfather's bedroom. International and local media reported that the gun was legally registered and had a permit.

Attacker's Background and Gun Control Context

According to local media, police searched devices belonging to the teenager and found several videos relating to school shootings in the United States. Family members described the teenager in local media as quiet and well-behaved. His uncle told Thai media that the teenager spent much of his time indoors playing violent video games, rarely went outside, and gave no indication that he was planning an attack. The teenager lived with his grandparents as his parents were divorced.

Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in South East Asia, with approximately 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession. Around four million of these are believed to be owned illegally. While the country has strict gun laws that punish illegal possession with up to 10 years in prison, enforcement has been an ongoing issue.

During his previous tenure as interior minister, Anutin introduced several gun control measures, including a short-term ban on new gun licenses and import restrictions. Speaking on Friday, the prime minister expressed his grief, stating that the tragedy "shouldn't have happened" and questioning how such an event could occur in the country.

Debsirin School, founded in Bangkok in 1885, is one of Thailand's top secondary schools with branches across the country. Its alumni include diplomats, athletes, and several former prime ministers.