The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand has risen to nine after a 12-year-old girl who was critically wounded in the attack died in hospital.
Police in Nonthaburi Province confirmed the girl’s death after Friday’s shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, northwest of Bangkok.
A 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents before attacking people at the school and then turning the gun on himself.
More than 30 people were wounded. Fourteen remained in hospital on Saturday evening, including seven in critical condition.
Police are continuing their investigation and questioning witnesses, including the teenager’s parents.
Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said the boy had lived with his grandparents for 12 years after his parents separated.
Investigators said the suspected attacker fired at least 26 rounds using a gun belonging to his grandfather and was found carrying another 34 rounds of ammunition.
Police said the teenager had previously had an air gun confiscated by a teacher and had watched violent material online and used social media to learn how to operate a firearm.
“According to witness interviews, the perpetrator had begun showing interest in studying the use of firearms for some time, about one to two years,” Atthapol said.
Police had interviewed 17 witnesses and recovered a knife from the boy’s bag. Other evidence collected from the crime scenes included a firearm, spent cartridge cases and a personal computer.
The suspected shooter remained inside the school after reports of the attack emerged, according to Interior Ministry permanent secretary Arsit Sampantharat.
A lockdown was declared over about half an hour later, with images from the scene showing students running from the school during the evacuation.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged new gun legislation following the shooting, saying only government officials on duty would be permitted to carry firearms.
He did not provide details about the proposed measures or whether they would tighten requirements for gun ownership.
Thailand has experienced several mass shootings in recent years, including attacks at schools and a Bangkok shopping mall. A 2022 attack in the country’s north-east killed 37 people, including 22 children.
