Thailand’s prime minister has committed to implementing stricter firearms regulations following a deadly shooting that claimed eight lives on the outskirts of Bangkok. A 14-year-old opened fire at his residence and school, injuring 22 additional people before fatally shooting himself. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans for legislation that would severely limit civilian access to firearms, permitting only active government personnel to carry weapons in public spaces.
The teenager fatally shot his grandparents at their shared residence early Friday morning, then boarded a school bus with the weapon and ammunition. He proceeded to his classes at Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, where he was enrolled. Approximately 30 minutes into his second class, he began firing, killing five educators and two school administrators before authorities arrived at the scene.
The weapon used belonged to the teenager’s grandfather and carried proper legal registration and permits. Police investigations revealed the firearm was recovered from the grandfather’s bedroom. The attack has raised concerns about Thailand’s gun ownership rates, with the Southeast Asian nation hosting approximately 10.3 million civilian-owned firearms, though enforcement of existing gun control measures has remained inconsistent.
The prime minister expressed deep remorse over the incident, describing it as thoroughly premeditated with specific objectives. Investigators discovered that the attacker had accessed videos documenting school shootings in the United States on his personal devices. The teenager reportedly spent significant time indoors engaging with violent video games, though family members indicated no warning signs of the planned assault.
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