Seven killed in Thailand shooting rampage

A 14-year-old boy has killed seven people and injured 23 others in a shooting rampage at a home and school on the outskirts of the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the media that the student at Devasirin School in Nonthaburi first shot and killed his grandparents at his home. He then went to the school to kill five more teachers and then killed himself.

Police said the gunman had more than 30 bullets left in his possession when he committed suicide. Nine of the injured were in critical condition.

The attack began shortly after 10 a.m. local time. Police and forensic officials said the attacker fired with great precision and was well-planned. Police did not immediately release a specific motive, although the prime minister said the teenager may have been mentally disturbed due to the pressure of his studies.

A seventh-grade student at Devsirin School, who witnessed the incident, said she was standing right in front of her teacher when the attacker shot her while she was talking. Panicked students ran over the school wall to escape, and many hid in classrooms.

Classes were suspended in nearby schools after the tragic incident and authorities appealed for blood donations.

Although Thailand has strict gun laws, the country has one of the highest rates of private gun ownership among civilians in Southeast Asia. The incident has put new pressure on the government to tighten gun control laws.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his condolences and announced that under the new proposed law, only government officials on duty will be allowed to carry weapons.

Source: BBC.