Thailand school shooting toll rises to nine after 12-year-old dies, police say

The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand has risen to nine, after police confirmed a 12-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries sustained during Friday's incident. The tragic event unfolded at Debsirin Nonthaburi school, located northwest of Bangkok, when a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents and subsequently targeted his classmates before taking his own life.

The 14-year-old perpetrator inflicted over 30 injuries, with 34 additional rounds of ammunition found in his possession. Seven individuals remained hospitalized on Saturday evening, with seven of them in critical condition. Police are conducting investigations, including questioning the suspect's parents.

Arsit Sampantharat, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry, stated that the school lockdown was lifted within half an hour following the reports of the attack. Images from the scene depicted students evacuating the premises barefooted, as only socks were worn.

In response to the incident, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to introduce new gun control measures, asserting that only government officials on duty will be permitted to carry firearms. However, the Prime Minister did not disclose further details about the proposed legislation, such as potential changes to gun ownership requirements.

Thailand, which possesses the highest rate of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, has a history of mass shootings, including attacks on schools and a major mall in Bangkok. According to the Small Arms Survey, the country ranks 13th worldwide for small-gun possession. Mass shootings have been a recurring issue in the nation, with a particularly devastating 2022 attack in the country's northeast claiming 37 lives, including 22 children.