An 18-year-old gunman who took students and teachers hostage at a school in southern Thailand on Wednesday (February 11) has been captured by police, ending a tense standoff that left multiple people injured.
The incident unfolded at Patongprathankiriwat School in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla Province when the armed teenager entered the premises and fired several shots. According to police officials, at least three people were wounded during the attack.
“The perpetrator has been captured,” Songkhla’s Deputy Superintendent Wichian Soboon told reporters. All hostages were successfully released following police intervention.
There are conflicting reports about the exact number of casualties. Some officials reported that a student and a teacher were among the wounded, while others indicated the gunman himself may have been injured after being shot by police during the apprehension. The provincial government of Songkhla, however, initially stated there were no victims despite confirming that “about two to three gunshots were heard” when the gunman entered the school.
Authorities have not yet released information about the suspect’s motives or how he obtained the weapon.
This incident comes amid ongoing concerns about gun violence in Thailand. In 2022, the country experienced one of its deadliest mass shootings when a former police officer killed 36 people, including 22 children, in an attack at a nursery in eastern Thailand.
Thai officials are expected to provide additional details about the incident as the investigation continues.
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