After Canada, indiscriminate firing in Thailand’s school, many people injured, shooters took teachers and students hostage

Shooters opened fire at a school in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla this evening and took several students and teachers hostage. The local administration has confirmed this on social media. According to Reuters report, an unknown number of students and teachers are hostage in a school in Songkhla province. The incident took place at Patong Prathan Khiriwit School in Patong sub-district of Hat Yai district.

Many people injured in firing, trapped in school

According to local media in Thailand, the gunman entered the school and opened fire, injuring a teacher and taking him to the hospital. In some reports, many people including children are said to be injured, but the exact number of injured is not yet clear. Many students and teachers are still trapped inside the school and are unable to get out. Thung Lung police station has surrounded the school. Special Operations Unit and rescue team have reached the spot and are trying to control the situation.

According to Thairath News, the suspect has been identified as 18-year-old ‘Khem’. He has taken a female staff member hostage in the Public Relations Room on the first floor of the school. Some reports say that a Mathyom 5 (Grade 11) student has also been taken hostage. Police have sealed the area around the school and are trying to negotiate.

Firing during school holidays

The incident happened near school dismissal time, when students were going home. Main Taptim Yala Foundation was the first to give this information on Facebook. The local administration and police are keeping an eye on the situation. There is no news of any death yet, but the number of injured may increase. The rescue operation is ongoing and more updates may come in the coming hours. The Thai government and police have appealed to the people to remain calm and not believe in rumours.

There have been cases of gun violence in Thailand before, such as in 2022 when a former policeman killed 37 people, mostly children, at a day-care center. But this incident of hostage taking in school is very serious.