BREAKING NEWS : 31 killed in Thai childcare center. Suspect is former police officer

[SBFNews]

Thailand: 31 killed in mass shooting at children’s day-care centre, says police

At least 31 people were killed on Thursday in a mass shooting at a children’s day-care centre in a northeastern province of Thailand, a police spokesperson said.

Victims included both children and adults, police said in a statement, adding that the gunman was an ex-police officer and a manhunt was underway.

The prime minister has alerted all agencies to take action and apprehend the culprit, a government spokesperson said.

The rate of gun ownership in Thailand is high compared with some other countries in the region but official figures do not include huge numbers of illegal weapons, many of which have been brought in across porous borders over the years from strife-torn neighbours.

Mass shootings are rare but in 2020, a soldier angry over a property deal gone sour killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations.

 

[syed putra]

If guy is budhist, its not terror related.

 

[Loofydralb]

From the land of the fake thousand smiles....

Now you will have the Thais make up ghosts stories of 31 headless children. We all know how stupidly superstitious Thais are.

 

[LexLuthor]

Committed suicide liao.

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

too bad no one like this burst into our LumParLEEment leh..................

 

[bobby]

Must be due to legalised marijuana....

 

[laksaboy]

Northeast Thailand is a ghetto. They have more in common with Laos than the rest of Thailand.

 

[winners]

That's why I always say it's easier to get a gun in Thailand. When my next driving trip to Hatyai, I'll try to source for an air pistol. During my last trip to Hatyai, I'd already got 2 of these:

 

[Froggy]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-to-tighten-gun-control-rules-after-mass-shooting

Thailand to tighten gun control rules after mass shooting

BANGKOK - Thailand will toughen its gun possession and drug laws, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, following the nursery massacre of 36 people – including 24 children – in the kingdom’s worst mass killing.

The country was left reeling after an ex-police officer forced his way into a small nursery in northeastern Na Klang last week, murdering 22 children at the nursery and their teacher before killing his wife, their child and himself.

The attack was carried out with a knife and a legally acquired gun, and while Thailand has a huge number of firearms in circulation – one estimate suggesting there are as many as one in seven firearms per person – mass shootings are rare.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said on Wednesday the government would require tougher qualifications for new gun owners, as well as ramping up checks on existing firearm holders.

“Our new qualification will include mental health reports, we will be examining whether we need proof from doctors,” he told a press conference, without giving further details.

Gun applicants are already required to undergo a background check and must present a valid reason for ownership – such as hunting or self-defence.

“For example, if officials want to possess a gun, their supervisors have to ratify that that individual has no record of alcohol abuse or bad temper,” Mr Anupong said.

Village leaders or local officials will play a role in granting the tougher gun licences, he said.

Currently gun owners do not have to reapply for licences during the lifetime of a firearm. But now, approved gun holders will have to undergo a review every three to five years, Mr Anupong said.

“Because as time changes, people change,” he explained.

Parliament will also discuss an exemption penalty for illegal gun holders, Mr Anupong said, adding that individuals will be able to hand unauthorised firearms to the authorities without facing prosecution – though he did not indicate when they must do so by.

Those who still possess illegal weapons will face harsh penalties, he said.

Mr Anupong added that his ministry would work with police and the health department to increase drug screening and awareness, as well as encouraging addicts into rehabilitation.

“If everyone in town knows that drugs exist but local authorities don’t, they will be transferred,” he said.

The nursery attacker, 34-year-old sacked police sergeant Panya Kamrab, was dismissed from his post earlier this year on a drugs charge, with locals saying they suspected he was a methamphetamine addict.

However, preliminary tests found that he did not have any drugs in his system at the time of the assault. AFP

 

[steffychun]

Moral of the story dont send your kids to childcare