A least 34 people, including 24 children, have been killed in a mass shooting carried out by a former policeman at a children's nursery in northern Thailand. Gunman Panya Khamrab then killed his wife and child before taking his own life as authorities launched a large-scale manhunt in Nong Bua Lamphu, roughly 333 miles north-east of Bangkok.
The 34-year-old had previously been dismissed from police duties for illicit drug use, the Mirror report. Police have confirmed that at least 34 victims died in the attack on Thursday with 18 more injured. The fatalities include 24 children, with some as young as two years old.
"At first people thought it was fireworks," district official Jidapa Boonsom told Reuters. The attacker's motives remain unclear, however he had arrived at the earlier nursery and appeared agitated to find his child was not there.
He then returned with a gun and shot four or five staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant, police spokesperson Paisan Luesomboon told Thai PBS television.
One teacher who was shot posted a picture of a birthday party for his beloved son just one day before the tragedy. After attacking the child-care centre, the gunman also shot at people as he drove away, according to PPTV, a local TV station.
While witnesses say the gunman was also seen wielding a knife. Photographs appeared to show white sheets covering the bodies of children surrounded by pools of blood.
The shooting occurred during the afternoon, while children at the centre were reportedly sleeping. Mr Khamrab then escaped in a white Vigo pickup truck with a Bangkok registration and as he fled the scene the front bumper fell off the car, Thai Tiger reports.
At around 15:00 local time (9 am GMT) the perpetrator then shot himself, his wife and his child following his rampage at the day care centre. Reports say that the alleged murderer was sacked from his position in the police force last year for failing a drugs test.
Two local hospitals, Nong Bua Lamphu and Na Klang, have said they urgently require blood to care for victims of the attack. Those who are able to donate blood immediately should go to either hospital as soon as possible.
Mr Juti Krairiksh, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, has ordered officials from the local area to provide urgent aftercare to all shooting victims and their family members. The police spokesman then urged people to stop sharing pictures and clips of the victims of the shooting.
Police Major General Achayon Kraithong, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said the incident was a loss that no one wanted to happen. He continued: "First of all, I would like to express my condolences to all the bereaved families. including the injured and warn users of social networks to please refrain from sharing images and video clips."
General Anupong Paochinda ordered the closure of all child development centres in the area. Mass shootings are rare in Thailand despite the rate of gun ownership being much higher compared with some neighbouring countries.
In 2020, a soldier was enraged over a property deal gone sour and so murdered at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations.
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