Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire rang out at the upscale Siam Paragon shopping mall in the heart of the Thai capital at around 4:30 p.m. local time on October 3.
Image of the suspect in the Bangkok shooting being controlled. Photo: Reuters
National Police Chief Torsak Sukwimol told reporters that two women, one Chinese and one Burmese, were killed in the mall shooting. He said the 14-year-old suspect was in custody but could not be questioned due to his mental condition.
"The suspect is a mental patient at Rajavithi Hospital and is not on medication," police said. "The suspect spoke as if someone else was telling him what to do and who to shoot."
All but one of those shot were women, Yuthana Srettanan, director of the Erawan Emergency Center, told reporters. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his condolences to the victims' families and said he was closely monitoring the situation.
A private school called The Essence, just metres from Siam Paragon, confirmed the suspect was one of their students and sent condolences to the victim's family.
Security camera footage circulating in Thai media shows the moment the gunman was caught, as two police officers pointed their weapons at him through the window of a furniture store. The attacker raised his hands and knelt on the floor as police smashed the glass door and rushed to handcuff the suspect.
A second video widely shared on social media later showed the gunman's face. There was no immediate word on a motive for the shooting.
The mall shooting will raise new questions about gun control in Thailand, a country with one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region.
Trung Kien (according to AFP)
Source
Comment (0)