Pupil guns down seven in Thailand

SCHOOL SHOOTING | Boy, 14, kills five staffers, grandparents and takes his own life; 23 injured

planned assault?

1. Shooter fired over 20 shots
2. Gun legally registered to his grandfather
3. School has about 3,000 students aged 12 to 18
4. Classes suspended from August 10 to 14
5. Police recovered 30 unused rounds

The new law will only allow government officials on duty to carry guns.

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Nonthaburi: A 14-year-old student opened fire at a high school outside Bangkok on Friday, killing five school staff members and wounding 23 people after apparently killing his grandparents at their home, officials said. The student later took his own life at the school.

The shooting took place around 10am at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nontha­buri, northwest of Bangkok. Five staff members, including teachers and administrators, were killed, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunch­wee said. Bangyai Hospital, about 5 km from the school, said 23 people were wounded, 10 of them critically.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that the student was 14 and said he had shown signs of stress connected to school. The gun, described by police as small and compact, was legally registered to his grandfather.

Police later found the boy’s grandparents dead with apparent gunshot wounds at the family home. The student appeared to have shot them before attending school as usual, regional police Comm­a­nder Wattana Yeejeen said.

Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan said the student waited until classes began before opening fire inside his classroom and then walking out and firing more shots. He fired over 20 rounds and still had 30 rounds when he shot himself, police said.

A witness said students hid in a classroom until police cleared a way for them to leave. The school, which has about 3,000 students aged 12 to 18, said classes would remain suspended from Aug 10 to 14.