Thailand School Shooting Death Toll Rises to Nine After 12-Year-Old Girl Dies

A 12-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries sustained during a school shooting in Thailand on Friday, raising the death toll to nine, according to police. The attack occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi Province, located northwest of Bangkok, where a 14-year-old student allegedly targeted his grandparents before opening fire at the school and subsequently taking his own life.

The suspect used a gun belonging to his grandfather, firing at least 26 bullets and possessing an additional 34 rounds. Over 30 people were wounded in the incident, with 14 remaining hospitalized as of Saturday evening, including seven in critical condition. The school, which accommodated about 3,000 students aged 12 to 18, has been suspended classes from August 10 to 14, with staff instructed to work from home.

Police are questioning witnesses, including the suspect's parents, to determine the motive behind the shooting. The attack has reignited concerns about gun violence in Thailand, a nation with the highest civilian gun ownership rate in Southeast Asia. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to introduce new gun laws, suggesting that only government officials on duty should be allowed to carry firearms, though further details on potential restrictions on civilian gun ownership have not been provided.