Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has committed to introducing new firearms legislation after a 14-year-old student killed eight people, including his grandparents and five teachers, in a shooting at a Bangkok-area school.
A teenager opened fire at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi on Friday morning, killing five teachers and injuring dozens of others in what authorities describe as a carefully planned attack. The incident began at the attacker's home around 05:00 local time, when he fatally shot his 73-year-old grandfather and 74-year-old grandmother, each with a single shot to the head. He then boarded a school bus carrying the legally registered firearm and ammunition, attending his regular classes before drawing the weapon around 30 minutes into his second period.
According to police, the teenager first targeted teachers on the school's sixth floor, killing three of them. He subsequently encountered the school's deputy director and the director's secretary on the staircase, shooting both fatally. Police arrived while the shooting was ongoing and discovered the attacker had taken his own life by approximately 10:40. An eighth victim, a student, later died from injuries sustained during the attack, with at least 22 others wounded.
Prime Minister Anutin responded swiftly, vowing to introduce legislation restricting firearm carrying in public spaces to government officials on duty only. The attack has renewed focus on gun control enforcement in Thailand, which has one of Southeast Asia's highest rates of civilian gun ownership at approximately 10.3 million registered firearms, alongside an estimated four million illegal weapons. Though Thailand maintains strict existing laws—punishing illegal possession with up to 10 years imprisonment—enforcement remains inconsistent. Police Colonel Thadsakorn Konthong confirmed the weapon belonged to the teenager's grandfather and was legally permitted.
Investigations revealed the 14-year-old had researched US school shootings and spent considerable time playing violent video games, according to family members quoted in local media. However, relatives reported no prior warning signs of violent intent. Forensic officers noted the shooter demonstrated notable accuracy, with several shots striking vital areas. The tragedy has prompted reflection on security protocols at Debsirin School, one of Thailand's most prestigious secondary institutions founded in 1885.
