Shooting in Thailand: 34 killed, including children in day care center

Shooting in Thailand: 34 killed, including children in day care center

At least 34 people were killed in a shooting at a childcare center in Thailand's northeastern province on Thursday. At least 23 of them were children, police said. Following the shooting, the assailant committed suicide.

Among the dead were at least 24 children, some as young as two years old, as well as two teachers and a police officer.

The man first shot four or five staff members, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant. The attacker later returned to his home and committed suicide with his wife and child, the Daily News newspaper reported.

The gunman has been identified as Panya Khamrab(34). He was fired from the police force last year for drug use.

Officials said the first attack took place at around 12:30pm local time when the man entered a childcare center in the town of Nongbua Lamphu.

About 30 children were in the center when the gunman entered, district official Zidaba Boonsom said.

According to police, 19 young men, three young women and two adults were killed in the building before the shooter escaped.

"The shooter came at lunchtime and first shot four or five officers at the childcare center," Jidaba said.

At first, people thought the displays were fireworks.

"It was really shocking. We were very scared and ran to hide when we heard the shooting. Many children were killed, I have never seen anything like that."

Videos posted on social media showed sheets of what appeared to be the bodies of children lying in a pool of blood in the center of the town of Udai Chawan, 500 km (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok in Nong Bua Lambu province.

#กราดยิง #หนองบัวลำภู Gunman identified by police as 34-year-old Panya Kamrab. He reportedly fled the scene in a white Toyota pick-up truck pic.twitter.com/LWSATXgy4K

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) October 6, 2022

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha described it as a "shocking incident" and offered his condolences to the families of the victims.

On his Facebook page, Mr. Prayuth ordered all agencies to treat the injured.

#กราดยิง #หนองบัวลำภู: Thai police reported shooting and casualties in Uthai Sawan subdistrict, Nong Bua Lam Phu province.

Public urged to stay at home or in safe places. Assailant, believed to be armed, fled the scene in a vehicle. Police is searching for the person pic.twitter.com/XOBxZsZ9WA

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) October 6, 2022