Bangkok: Thirty-eight folks had been killed in Thailand on Thursday in a gun and knife assault at a daycare centre by a former policeman who killed his spouse and baby earlier than turning his weapon on himself, police stated.
There have been 22 kids among the many victims of the suspected attacker, recognized as Panya Khamrab, who had been discharged from the service final 12 months for drug-related causes, district police official Chakkraphat Wichitvaidya informed media.
Police stated Panya had been in court docket on medicine prices earlier than finishing up the assault. They cited witnesses as saying the gunman was additionally seen wielding a knife.
About 30 kids had been on the centre when the gunman arrived, fewer than normal, as heavy rain had stored many individuals away, district official Jidapa Boonsom, who was working in a close-by workplace on the time, informed Reuters.
“The shooter got here in round lunchtime and shot 4 or 5 officers on the childcare centre first,” stated Jidapa, including that amongst them was a instructor who was eight months pregnant.
“At first folks thought it was fireworks,” she stated.
Individuals collect outdoors the daycare centre after studying of the assault. Credit score:TPBS through AP
The gunman then pressured his method right into a locked room the place kids had been sleeping, Jidapa stated, to kill kids there with a knife.
Movies posted on social media confirmed sheets overlaying what gave the impression to be the our bodies of kids mendacity in swimming pools of blood on the centre within the city of Uthai Sawan, 500km northeast of Bangkok within the province of Nong Bua Lamphu.
