Student opens fire at Thai school, leaving at least 6 dead

A student opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School near Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least six people, including three teachers and three students, and injuring more than 10 others.

The shooter, identified as a student at the school, is in critical condition. Police spokesperson Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpan confirmed the casualties, stating that the motive for the attack remains unknown. The school, a combined middle and high school, serves approximately 3,000 students.

One student described the initial moments of the attack, saying, "At first, I thought (the gunshots) were fireworks." The incident occurred on August 7 (local time) in Nonthaburi province.

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At first, I thought (the gunshots) were fireworks.

Thailand has a higher rate of civilian gun ownership compared to other Southeast Asian nations. According to the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based research organization, there are over 10.3 million privately owned firearms in the country. A 2019 report by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation indicated that Thailand ranks second in Southeast Asia for gun homicide rates, following the Philippines.

This is not the first school shooting in Thailand this year. In February, a teacher was killed and a student injured in a shooting incident at a school in the southern district of Hatyai.

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The motive for the attack remains unknown.