A gunman armed with a machine gun opened fire and took hostages inside a school in Thailand today, according to multiple reports. The attacker injured teachers and pupils during a violent rampage before seizing hostages at the Patong Prathan Kiriwat School in Songkhla province, located near the border with Malaysia.
Chaos and Evacuation at the School
Armed police swiftly arrived at the scene as hundreds of young students fled onto the roads outside the school. This evacuation occurred shortly after the end of the day's lessons, adding to the chaos and confusion. Local media reported that the exact number of injuries remained unknown at the time, with a significant number of teachers and pupils still trapped inside the building.
Police Negotiations and Eyewitness Accounts
Officers from the Hat Yai district confirmed they were actively attempting to negotiate with the gunman to resolve the hostage situation peacefully. A security guard who managed to escape from the shooter provided a harrowing eyewitness account, revealing that the gunman had shot the headmaster during the attack.
The guard stated, 'A bullet grazed my stomach, but I escaped. The school director was shot. There were still children inside the school who have been taken hostage.' This testimony highlighted the immediate danger faced by those inside the school premises.
Background of the Suspect and the Attack
Police in the Thung Lung district disclosed that they had received earlier reports about the gunman, who is believed to be 18 years old. The suspect was reportedly behaving erratically and had threatened to harm his mother at a house near the school. When officers arrived to subdue him, the situation escalated dramatically.
The suspect allegedly armed himself with an M4 submachine gun and walked into the school, where he opened fire. This attack seriously injured the school principal, and the gunman subsequently took a teacher and students hostage, creating a critical and ongoing crisis.
The incident has drawn significant attention from local authorities and media, with efforts focused on securing the safety of the hostages and bringing the situation to a peaceful conclusion. The community remains on high alert as developments continue to unfold.
