A 14-year-old teenager shot dead at least two people at a popular luxury shopping center in the Thai capital Bangkok. Another five victims were injured on Tuesday afternoon (local time), Thai broadcaster Thai PBS reported. The young perpetrator was arrested on the spot by emergency services, it was said.
The two fatalities are from China and one from Myanmar. The mall, which is also popular among foreign tourists and includes luxury shops, restaurants and a huge cinema complex, is one of Bangkok’s best-known shopping centers and is located right next to the Siam Train Station, a major hub in the capital.
The crowd poured out of the mall
Hundreds of people fled the mall after gunshot-like sounds were heard inside the mall. It was not immediately clear whether shots had actually been fired. But then there were the first reports of injuries. Sirens blared as ambulances pulled up in heavy rain.
Videos on social media showed some frightened customers barricading themselves inside the mall. The exit to the shopping center at the nearby Siam Railway Station was closed to prevent commuters from leaving the station. The incident took place at the beginning of the evening rush hour.
A photo of the 14-year-old’s arrest is circulating on social media:
The perpetrator must have surrendered
Thailand’s PBS station reported how a man who was shot in the back received emergency care at the mall. The injured were taken to hospitals. The broadcaster later published a photo on the channel. A police officer kneels above him.
According to Thai newspaper “Thairath”, security cameras in the shopping complex captured the perpetrator placing his weapon on the ground, raising both arms, turning around and kneeling. Nothing is yet known about the possible motive of the young person. It is said that he has been treated for mental illness in the past.
Almost exactly a year ago, another terrible massacre took place
The incident shocked the kingdom of Thailand shortly before the first anniversary of a horrific act of violence in which a former police officer armed with guns and knives killed 36 people, most of them children, at a daycare center in the country’s northeast in October. 6, 2022. According to local media reports, the escaped perpetrator later committed suicide after also killing his wife and child. More than two years earlier, a soldier killed 29 people in a shooting. He took hostages in a shopping center, also in the northeast of the country. The man was later shot dead by security forces.
Gun violence is not uncommon in Thailand. There were approximately 7.2 million firearms in private hands in Thailand in 2021, according to a University of Sydney database. Statistically, there was a firearm for every tenth resident. According to ‘Time’ magazine, Thailand has one of the highest gun ownership rates in all of Southeast Asia.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
