31 killed in Thailand mass shooting

A former policeman has killed 34 people in a mass shooting at a children’s day-care center in Thailand. The victims have included 22 children as well as adults.

The incident took place in Nong Bua Lamphu province, in the north-east of the country, on Thursday afternoon. A manhunt was launched after the attack.

The gunman was an ex-police officer, and he took his own life following the shooting.

The attacker shot and stabbed children and adults, police said. A motive for the attack is unclear.

The prime minister has alerted all agencies to take actions and apprehend the culprit, a government spokesperson said.

Mass shootings are rare in Thailand even though the rate of gun ownership is high compared with some other countries in the region, and illegal weapons are common.

In 2020, a soldier angry over a property deal gone sour killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations.