Former Thai Police Officer Opens Fire at Daycare Center... At Least 34 Children and Others Dead

Local Police Identify Suspect as Former Police Officer

A shooting incident occurred at a daycare center in northeastern Thailand. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A shooting incident occurred at a daycare center in Thailand, resulting in at least 34 deaths.

According to the British BBC and others on the 6th (local time), the day before, the shooter, armed with a gun and a knife, broke into a daycare center in the Nong Bua Pham Bu area of northeastern Thailand and carried out the incident. Among the deceased were 22 children.

According to a spokesperson for the Thai government, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha quickly instructed all agencies to arrest the perpetrator and take all necessary measures. On the same day, Prime Minister Prayut posted on Facebook, expressing "deep condolences to the bereaved families and the injured," and said, "I have ordered the police to immediately dispatch to the area and will assist the victims through all relevant agencies."

Local police identified former police officer Panya Kamrap (34) as the suspect. On the same day, The Guardian, citing local media, reported that "the shooter killed his wife and child before committing suicide."

Thais can possess firearms if they have a permit. According to the gun monitoring group GunPolicy, as of 2017, the civilian sector in Thailand owned approximately 10.34 million firearms. Of these, only about 6.22 million were registered, and more than 4.12 million are estimated to be unlicensed firearms.

In the past, shooting incidents have also occurred in Thailand, shocking local residents. On the 14th of last month, a soldier shot a colleague at a military school in the Dusit district of Bangkok, resulting in three casualties. The shooter, who worked in an administrative position, entered the office with a pistol and fired at the sergeants working with him. On February 8, 2020, a soldier opened fire at a large shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, causing 29 deaths and injuring 57 in a mass shooting incident.