Seven killed after teen shooter opens fire at home and school in Thailand

At slightest seven people person been killed and 23 injured aft a 14-year-old lad opened occurrence astatine a location and his schoolhouse connected the outskirts of Thailand's superior Bangkok.

The gunman - a pupil astatine the Debsirin School successful Nonthaburi - killed his grandparents and 5 teachers earlier taking his ain life, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters. The attacker inactive had "more than 30 bullets left" erstwhile helium turned the weapon connected himself, Anutin added.

Nine of the injured radical stay successful a captious condition, authorities say.

The shooting - the 2nd astatine a schoolhouse successful Thailand this twelvemonth - has renewed unit connected the authorities for greater enactment connected weapon control.

Police were deployed to the country during the progressive shooting, which began conscionable aft 10:00 section clip (03:00 GMT).

National constabulary main constabulary wide Kittiratt Phanphet told reporters that forensic officers had recovered the gunman's shots were rather accurate, with respective hitting captious spots connected the body.

The premier curate said the onslaught was "well prepared" with "clear steps and wide goals".

The attacker has not been publically named, and constabulary haven't disclosed a motive - though the premier curate said the lad whitethorn person been stressed astir his studies.

Investigations are continuing, with officers seen carrying distant machine instrumentality and boxes from a location wherever constabulary accidental the shooter killed his grandparents earlier the schoolhouse rampage.

The Debsirin School, founded successful Bangkok successful 1885, is 1 of Thailand's apical secondary schools with branches crossed the country. It counts galore salient Thai figures arsenic its alumni, from diplomats and athletes to respective premier ministers.

A pistillate seventh grader, inactive successful schoolhouse uniform, told the BBC she was lasting successful beforehand of her teacher erstwhile the pistillate was shot.

"She was talking to maine erstwhile [the gunman] showed up and changeable her," she said.

"I couldn't spot thing but a [cloud] of dust."

Still successful her uniform, with her parent by her side, she explained however the shooter stalked from country to room.

"I had to ascent implicit the schoolhouse obstruction to flight with different friends."

Her parent says the miss thought she mightiness die. "[She said] 'I thought I'd ne'er spot you again'."

Another pupil told Reuters quality bureau that helium had thought the dependable of gunshots were firecrackers going off.

"There were galore shots: bang bang bang. Then it went quiet. Then it started again."

Students and schoolhouse unit were seen fleeing from the scene, and those waiting extracurricular the Debsirin School looked visibly distraught.

Authorities warned radical to enactment distant from the country and for those trapped successful the gathering to fell and hold for rescuers.

In a station connected societal media, the schoolhouse aboriginal shared a telephone for humor donations.

Other schools successful the vicinity suspended classes truthful students could instrumentality location early.

PM Anutin expressed condolences for the victims of the schoolhouse shooting. He said the calamity "shouldn't person happened", adding "this is wherefore the authorities bash not let [citizens] to person firearms".

"I don't conscionable consciousness atrocious for the victims but I consciousness atrocious that this happened. How tin this hap successful our country," helium said.

Thailand has strict weapon laws, which punishes the amerciable possession of arms with up to 10 years successful jail. Enforcement of these laws has been an contented - though constabulary person made nary proposition the limb utilized successful this case, owned by the shooter's grandfather, was illegally obtained.

The state has 1 of the highest rates of civilian weapon ownership successful South East Asia. It is estimated that astir 40% of these guns are illegal.