Thai Teenager Who Killed Seven Watched Violent Online Content
Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A 14-year-old Thai boy killed seven people, including his grandparents and six others at a school near Bangkok.
- Police stated the boy showed interest in weapons and consumed violent online content, and had a BB gun confiscated by a teacher last year.
- The Thai government announced plans to tighten school security measures, including mental health checks and anti-bullying initiatives.
A 14-year-old Thai boy carried out a deadly shooting spree, killing his grandparents and six others at a school in Bangkok's suburbs. Authorities reported the teenager had a long-standing interest in firearms and had been consuming violent online content. A teacher had previously confiscated a BB gun from him last year.
The perpetrator had shown interest in using firearms for about one or two years.
Police revealed that the boy learned to use firearms through social media. While no evidence of actual shooting practice has been found, investigators are examining his personal computer. The boy reportedly lived with his grandparents for about 12 years after his parents' divorce. His mother told Reuters she noticed no warning signs in her son, describing him as a bright and cheerful child who behaved normally. She expressed deep sorrow and apologized for his actions.
He was a bright and cheerful boy. He behaved completely normally.
In response to the tragedy, the Thai Ministry of Education announced new security protocols for schools, to be implemented within three months. These measures will include student mental health assessments, faster referrals for at-risk individuals, emergency response drills, anti-bullying efforts, and improved detection of prohibited items on school grounds. The attack, which left over 20 injured, is considered the deadliest in recent Thai history.
We are completely devastated. No one imagined something like this could happen.
Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.