Thailand shooting – Soldier at large after killing 12 with rifle near shopping centre and livestreaming it on Facebook
A THAI soldier went on a merciless shooting rampage today killing at least 12 people while livestreaming his bloody attack.
The camo-wearing killer sprayed bullets at his military commander, fellow soldiers and civilians before taking several people hostage.
At one stage he even complained – on social media – how he felt tired and had cramp in his trigger finger.
“The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead,” a police spokesperson said.
He first gunned down his commander and two others inside a military base before fleeing in a stolen Humvee.
The suspect then fired at civilians along the route to Terminal 21 shopping mall in Muang district of Korat, north-east of Bangkok.
He also opened fire at a Buddhist temple.
The attacker reportedly live-streamed his rampage in the mall on Facebook Live and took a selfie holding his rifle.
The suspect – named in local news reports as Sgt. Jakkrapanth Thomma – is now believed to be holed up in a basement at the mall.
Chilling posts on social media show multiple bodies at the scene of the horrific shooting.
Some images show the corpses of bloodied victims lying on the ground and inside cars.
Other images showed mall workers and shoppers hiding from the killer.
The shooter appeared posted several photos and videos of his attack on his social media account, along with updates in text.
“I’m tired now,” he said to the camera, wearing military helmet and uniform.
“I can’t move my finger anymore.”
“Should I surrender?” he posted at about 7pm before complaining he had a cramp.
The dead include a motorcycle taxi, a cab driver, and a student, according to preliminary reports from the scene.
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Videos posted by eyewitnesses to social media show him firing a rifle into the crowd and busy traffic close to the mall.
Although the reasons for the bloodshed are a mystery he did post several bizarre messages prior to the attack.
“Getting rich from corruption and taking advantage of other people, do they think they can bring money with them to spend in hell?” he wrote earlier today.