Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims' families and described the shooting as a "shocking" event. "My deepest condolences to the bereaved and injured families." In his Facebook message, he also ordered all emergency agencies to the scene.
More information is emerging about the weapons the attacker had with him at the scene of the shooting. The gunman was armed with a shotgun, a pistol and a knife, according to Thailand's public broadcaster. He is also reported to have driven his vehicle into bystanders.
The death toll now stands at least 34 people, multiple reports say. At least 12 more people have been wounded.
This is a profoundly shocking incident for Thailand, a country that has relatively high levels of gun violence but rarely experiences mass shootings involving schools and children. At this stage the motive of the former police officer who the authorities say carried out the shooting is unclear, but they say he was recently dismissed from the police force. He apparently killed his family, as well as the victims in the day center and then himself. The last such incident in Thailand was the killing of 29 people in a shopping center by a soldier in 2020. That incident raised serious questions about the security of firearms in army bases. At this stage no one knows what led to this terrible incident; it is relatively common for people to own firearms in Thailand and a former police officer would have little difficulty acquiring a gun.
Thai police are asking people not to share pictures and videos of the shooting and the victims on social media. Extremely graphic footage and still images purported to be from the scene are circulating on social media. General Achayon Kraithong says sharing such material is likely to affect people's mental health. Later videos appear to show parents arriving at the nursery, with armed police present.
Attacker had been in court before attack
The gunman had been to a court hearing on a drugs charge before he launched his attack, a police spokesperson told reporters.
The former officer was discharged from the police force last year for drug use.
Pictured: Families and police at nursery after tragedy
Some pictures are now emerging from the scene of this tragedy, with police investigators combing through the childcare center. People who appear to be family members of victims can be seen at the location. Other footage from a local hospital shows emergency services rushing victims to the hospital.
Thailand's prime minister says he has ordered an immediate investigation into today's attack. In a message posted to Facebook, Prayuth Chan-ocha said he had ordered the police commander to "fast-track an investigation" into how the tragedy had occurred. He also condemned the "horrifying" attack and offered his "deepest condolences to the families of the lost and injured".
