At least 30 people were killed in a mass shooting at a childcare center in Thailand: reports
According to Thai daily newspaper Khaosod Online, a gunman opened fire at a childcare center, killing 30 people including children before fleeing.
Insider
- At least 30 people were killed in a mass shooting in Nong Bua Lamphu, a province in northeastern Thailand.
- Local news outlet Khaosod Online said those killed included children.
- A police official told Reuters "at least 20 people" died in the incident.
At least 34 people were killed in a mass shooting at a daycare center in the northeast Thai province of Nong Bua Lamphu, according to media reports.
The AFP reported that the attack took place at a nursery. According to Thai media outlet Khaosod Online, a gunman stormed a daycare center in the province's Na Klang district, opening fire and killing multiple people before fleeing.
A spokesperson at a regional public affairs office confirmed to Bloomberg that of those killed, 23 were children, along with two teachers and one police officer.
According to the BBC, the gunman was a police officer who was recently dismissed from the force. The Thai police told the BBC that during the attack, the man shot and stabbed both children and adults.
Police spokesperson Archon Kraitong also confirmed the shooting to Reuters. At press time at 3.30 p.m. local time, Reuters reported than 34 people had been killed in the attack.
"There are at least 20 dead but details were still coming in," Kraitong told Reuters.
Khaosod Online separately reported that the gunman escaped the scene in a white pickup truck and published an advisory from the police warning members of the public to avoid approaching the truck if they spot it.
A spokesman at Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's office said that the prime minister has ordered government agencies to help those injured in the incident and to arrest the gunman, per The New York Times.
Mass shootings are rare in Thailand, where possessing an illegal firearm comes with a prison sentence of up to 10 years. However, they are not unheard of. In 2020, a disgruntled soldier went on a 16-hour shooting rampage that killed 29 people.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.