At least seven people, including the suspected gunman, have been killed after a student reportedly opened fire at a school in Thailand on Friday, August 7, according to a national police official.
The shooting occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, sending students fleeing the school as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Photos released by emergency workers showed students leaving the school while injured victims were taken to ambulances. Teachers were also seen comforting one another amid the chaos.
An 18-year-old student told Reuters that he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for firecrackers or someone hitting an object.
He said the sound stopped briefly before the shooting resumed.
Lt. Col. Trirong Phophan, a spokesperson for Thailand's National Police, confirmed that the suspected shooter was among the seven people who died. He added that 15 others were injured in the attack.
Thailand's Education Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong, said both teachers and students were among those reported dead.
Emergency worker Kiatikhun Verapongpradith, 47, said his team arrived while the shooting was still ongoing and treated several injured students.
He said a male teacher was found dead on an upper floor of the school, while a female teacher was discovered with serious injuries.
According to the emergency worker, medical personnel attempted to resuscitate the injured teacher before rushing her to hospital.
Deputy Education Minister Akkharanan Kannakittinan said authorities were coordinating efforts to provide assistance to those affected by the incident.
The shooting marks the second school shooting reported in Thailand this year. In February, a teacher was killed and a student injured in a separate incident in the southern part of the country.
Authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the latest attack.
