- A 14-year-old went on a killing spree at a school in Nonthaburi province on Friday.
- On Monday, a gunman, a former lawmaker, fired at a senior provincial official and his driver, wounding two people.
- On Monday, Thai school children returned to classrooms, with metal detectors and other checks at Debsirin School.
- Prime Minister Anutin reiterated his intention to tighten gun control measures and ordered tougher enforcement on Monday.
- Following Friday's shooting, the Education Ministry announced new school safety protocols over the next three months.
- At Debsirin School in Bangkok, authorities installed metal detectors and stepped up security as students returned to classrooms after the weekend.
- School director Withan Promsintusak said officials had acted immediately after the attack, introducing weapons screening to reassure parents and protect students.
- Thidarat Songrat, the 54-year-old grandmother of a student, said weapons screening was necessary because schools could not otherwise determine whether students might be carrying dangerous objects.
- Anutin told reporters that no one has the right to carry a firearm, especially in a public place, and that claiming a weapon was for self-defence was no justification.
A gunman was arrested after shooting at a senior provincial official in Nonthaburi, Thailand, just days following a 14-year-old's killing spree that left nine dead and over 20 injured. This incident has reignited discussions on gun control in the country.1
The shooter, a former lawmaker, targeted the official and his driver, resulting in two injuries. Major Gen. Dejrapee Kongdee confirmed the victims were hospitalized for treatment. The attack occurred shortly after a tragic incident at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where a teenager opened fire, marking Thailand's deadliest mass shooting in nearly four years.23
In response, schools across the nation have implemented metal detectors and enhanced security measures. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to tighten gun control laws, stating, "No one has the right to carry a firearm, especially in a public place." He emphasized that self-defense claims are not valid justifications for carrying weapons.45710
Thailand has an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian hands, the highest rate in Southeast Asia, with around 15 guns per 100 residents. Current regulations lack mental health screenings for gun applicants and allow individuals as young as 20 to possess firearms. The Education Ministry plans to introduce new safety protocols, including mental health screenings and emergency drills, to enhance school security.
“The suspected shooter, a former lawmaker, wounded a senior provincial official and his driver, who were sent to hospital. Prime Minister Anutin ordered police checkpoints and said no one has the right to carry a firearm in public, while the Education Ministry plans new safety protocols over three months.”
