More than 30 people were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire in a childcare center in northeastern Thailand, police said.
Police Maj. Gen. Achayon Kraithong said the shooting occurred early in the afternoon in the center in the town of Nongbua Lamphu.
He said the attacker killed 30 people before taking his own life.
Police later said the gunman had also killed his own family, AFP reported.
A spokesperson for a regional public affairs office said 26 deaths have been confirmed so far — 23 children, two teachers and one police officer.
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According to Thai media reports, the gunman also used knives in the attack and then fled the building.
Photographs showed at least two bodies on the floor of the center covered in white sheets.
Several media outlets identified the assailant as a former police officer but there was no immediate official confirmation.
#กราดยิง #หนองบัวลำภู Gunman identified by police as 34-year-old Panya Kamrab. He reportedly fled the scene in a white Toyota pick-up truck pic.twitter.com/LWSATXgy4K
— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) October 6, 2022
A photo of the alleged gunman was circulated on social media.
