Nong Bua Lamphu –
More than 30 people, including children, were reportedly killed in a mass shooting at a childcare center in the Uthai Sawan district of Nong Bua Lamphu province on Thursday afternoon, October 6th.
The assailant was reportedly a former police officer who immediately went on the run after the shooting at around 1:00 PM. However, he later died by suicide at a house after killing his wife and his three-year old child.
The exact number of the casualties in the mass shooting are still under official confirmation but local media said that the number could be as high as 36 people as of press time, including 12 adults and 24 children most around two-years-old. About 12 people were injured, eight of them critical, with local hospitals asking for assistance with blood donations.
Local media also reported that the assailant, whose name was later revealed as Panya Kamrap, was an ex-police officer who was forced to leave his position after he was previously accused of being involved with illegal drugs and once was reportedly arrested for possessing an amount of methamphetamine.
As of this afternoon, Royal Thai Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas is urgently flying to the province to examine and investigate the case. The cause or motive behind the mass shooting is under investigation. Authorities have also asked people to not share videos or photos of the shooting on social media out of respect for the victims and their families. This is a developing story.
UPDATE:Â 6:30 PM.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha is scheduled to visit Nong Bua Lamphu on Friday to express his condolences to the families of the victims. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered provincial public health officials to provide aid and assistance to the injuries and the victims’ families.
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