Ex-cop Kills Over 30 in Shooting Attack on Children’s Centre in Thailand

The assault occurred at the Child Development Center in Uthaisawan Na Klang district, Nong Bua Lamphu, reports suggest citing a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.

Police and paramedics are present at the scene of the incident.

Panya Khamrap, a 34-year-old former police officer, killed at least 36 people in a daycare nursery in Thailand, authorities said on Thursday.

“The death toll from the shooting incident… is at least 30 people”, Anucha Burapachaisri, a spokesman for the Thai prime minister’s office, said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha alerted all agencies to apprehend the suspect, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He also ordered a probe into the incident, calling it “horrifying”.

At least 23 of the victims are believed to be children, aged two to three, police colonel Jakkapat Vijitraithaya stated.

Several videos, purportedly showing people outside the daycare, where the attack took place, are circulating online.

Mass #shooting at a #childcare centre in #Thailand’s northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu. Initial reports indicate 38 people killed, mostly children.
Police have named a suspect, a 34-year Ex police officer.
He’s still on the run. #กราดยิง #กราดยิงหนองบัวลำภู pic.twitter.com/dfsfqebTUk

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) October 6, 2022

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha ordered a manhunt for the shooter who is still at run.
Mass #shooting at a #childcare centre in #Thailand’s northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu. Initial reports indicate 38 people killed, mostly children.#กราดยิง #กราดยิงหนองบัวลำภู pic.twitter.com/RujWGuS5bn

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) October 6, 2022

At the same time, the ThaiPBS broadcaster reported that the shooter had killed his wife and child and committed suicide.

The police reportedly found a pickup truck, in which the criminal fled the crime scene, in a parking lot of his house. After that, the building was surrounded. The officers tried to negotiate with Khamrap, as they believed the man was inside the house, teh report suggests. However, no one reportedly showed signs of life in the building, and therefore policemen thought that the perpetrator had left the building.

After some time, police officers decided to enter the house, ThaiPBS reported. They found bodies of Khamrap, his wife and child with bullet wounds inside. The injuries were consistent with the gun that Khamrap used during shooting at the nursery. The gun was also found in the house near the body of the gunman, the police were quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

Reports also suggested that the shooter may have been under the influence of drugs during the massacre. The perpetrator was reportedly fired from the service last year for failing a drug test and was due to go on trial in court tomorrow.