NONTHABURI, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, accompanied by National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kitrat Phanphet and government officials, visited Debsirin Nonthaburi School after a deadly shooting that left eight people dead, including the teenage suspect and his grandparents, with 36 others injured, nine of them in critical condition. The atmosphere was filled with grief as the bodies of teachers killed in the attack were carried from Building 5 to a Poh Teck Tung Foundation vehicle for transfer to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine. Relatives, family members and fellow teachers gathered to witness the removal of the bodies, many breaking down in tears.
Anutin, who is also interior minister, arrived at the school with government officials and joined a meeting with school administrators and representatives from relevant agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, and other government departments. Officials briefed the prime minister on the sequence of events, with reports that he was scheduled to visit the shooting site on the sixth floor of Building 5 after the meeting.
Following the briefing, Anutin said the incident was deeply tragic and revealed that more than 30 rounds of ammunition remained in the suspect’s bag. “If he had not ended his own life, the loss could have been much greater,” Anutin said. The prime minister said investigators believed the attack was linked to stress related to education, with information from close friends and family members pointing in the same direction. He said the suspect appeared to have planned the attack carefully and had a clear target. Anutin said the firearm used in the attack belonged to the suspect’s grandfather and was legally registered.
The latest figures showed eight deaths, including the suspect’s grandparents, and 36 injured victims. Nine people remained in serious condition and required close monitoring around the clock. The prime minister said the government would provide full assistance and support to families affected by the tragedy. He also confirmed that the suspect died by suicide and that police did not pressure him during the incident.
Meanwhile, Debsirin Nonthaburi School announced a special closure from August 10-14 following the emergency situation. School director Acting Capt. Nattapong Thongplub said classes would be suspended during the period, with students asked to continue reviewing lessons and completing assignments from their teachers while studying from home. Parents were requested to monitor their children’s safety and learning, while teachers and educational staff were instructed to work from home and maintain communication through available technology. Students are scheduled to return to normal classes on Monday, August 17.
