Teen gunman kills seven in shooting at Thai home and school near Bangkok

A 14-year-old boy opened fire at a home and his school on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least seven people and injuring 23, nine of whom remain in critical condition.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the attacker, a student at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, first killed his grandparents at home before heading to school, where he shot dead five teachers and then turned the gun on himself. He still had more than 30 bullets remaining at that point.

The national police chief said forensic officers found the shots to be highly accurate, with several hitting vital areas of the body. The prime minister described the attack as well prepared, with clear steps and clear goals.

How the attack unfolded

The shooting began just after 10:00 local time, with police arriving while the attack was still under way. The attacker has not been publicly named and police have not confirmed a motive, though the prime minister suggested the boy may have been under stress from his studies.

A seventh-grade student told the BBC she was standing beside her teacher when the woman was shot, and that she had to climb over the school fence to escape. Students and staff were seen fleeing the building, and nearby schools ended classes early so pupils could go home.

Debsirin School, founded in 1885, is one of Thailand's most prestigious secondary schools, counting several former prime ministers among its alumni.

Reaction

The prime minister offered condolences to the victims' families, saying such tragedies are exactly why the government restricts civilian firearm ownership. Illegal possession of weapons carries a prison term of up to 10 years in Thailand, though enforcement remains a challenge — an estimated 40% of guns in the country are illegally held. This was the second school shooting in Thailand this year, and the attack has renewed pressure on the government to tighten gun control measures.