Thailand shooting – Soldier at large after killing 17 with rifle near shopping centre and livestreaming it on Facebook
A THAI soldier went on a merciless shooting rampage today killing at least 17 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 in a shopping mall. The suspect – named by defence officials as Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma – is […]
A THAI soldier went on a merciless shooting rampage today killing at least 17 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 in a shopping mall.
The suspect – named by defence officials as Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma – is now holed up in a basement at the mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat.
It is understood the suspect first gunned down his commander and two others inside a military base before fleeing in a stolen Humvee with gun and ammo about 3pm local time.
The suspect then fired at civilians along the route to Terminal 21 shopping mall in Muang district of Korat, 155 miles north-east of Bangkok.
Terrifying CCTV showed the gunman walking calmly through the mall in the middle of the attack. He also opened fire at a Buddhist temple.
It is feared he is currently holding 16 people hostage on the fourth floor of the mall, the Bangkok Post reported.
The suspect has been documenting his bloody rampage in chilling social media posts, with it now almost seven hours since he first unleashed the shooting.
In one terrifying post, he posed with a gun warning: “Death is inevitable”.
At one stage he even complained how he felt tired and had cramp in his trigger finger.
Authorities are now desperately scrambling to find the killer as innocent bystanders were forced to run for their lives.
“The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead,” a police spokesperson said.
The number of those killed and injured are so far unclear, however an unnamed official told local media at least 17 are dead and 14 hurt.
Defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit added: “We don’t know why he did this. It appears he went mad.”
The attacker reportedly live-streamed his rampage in the mall on Facebook Live and took a selfie holding his rifle.
The Facebook page has since been taken down.
At one stage during the attack, he filmed himself in a military helmet and uniform.
He told the camera: “I’m tired now.”
“I can’t move my finger anymore.”
He later posted about having a cramp about 7pm, saying: “Should I surrender?”
Unconfirmed reports have also suggested the gunman was armed with hand grenades.
As authorities desperately try to control the scene, it has been reported they have made contact with the suspect’s mother, who lives in the Chaiyaphum province, and want to take her to the scene in the hope she will be able to persuade him to surrender.
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 photos showed mall workers and shoppers cowering from the killer inside cupboards.
Journalist Chatsurang Kongph is among those hiding, saying she “doesn’t know if we’ll come out alive”.
Panicked scenes saw terrified people fleeing from the gunman as he opened fire on crowds.
Bystanders also ran for their lives after the suspect fired at a cooking gas cylinder inside the food court, causing it to explode.
Although the exact 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.
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The dead include a motorcycle taxi, a cab driver, and a student, according to local reports.
Special warfare units have been dispatched to the scene.
Locals have been warned to stay indoors.