After student’s shooting rampage, Thai school reopens under tight security

A school in Thailand where a student carried out a deadly shooting rampage three weeks ago reopened on Tuesday, accompanied by heightened security measures. The 14-year-old perpetrator killed seven individuals, including himself, at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School on the outskirts of Bangkok on August 7, following an earlier shooting of his grandparents at their residence.

This incident marked Thailand's deadliest mass shooting in nearly four years and has reignited discussions about gun control in the nation. A screen at the school's entrance displayed the names and photos of the victims, while white ribbons were tied to the fence in their memory. Police presence and bag checks for students were also in effect.

At the school, civil defense volunteers in berets and camouflage uniforms were stationed around the grounds. Students queued for bag checks, some carrying items in transparent plastic bags. Parents held varied opinions about the school's reopening. Thongbai Muenjit, whose 15-year-old daughter attends the institution, expressed confidence in the school's implementation of stringent safety measures.

However, he was concerned about his daughter's mental state and the emotional impact of returning to the building where the tragedy had occurred. Natchuda Petpuangpan, whose 12-year-old child also attends the school, supported her daughter's return to classes, highlighting that such incidents are rare and could have happened anywhere.

Following the shooting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suspended the issuance of firearm permits and initiated a review of existing licenses. Thailand had an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, placing it second in Asia in terms of firearm ownership per capita, according to a 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey.

A school in Bangkok conducted an active shooter drill the previous month. Adisorn Deesa, a 15-year-old student, expressed his happiness about returning to the Debsirin Nonthaburi school, noting that online classes had hindered his understanding of lessons, making in-person classes more beneficial.