Thai police officers guard the shooting scene of a shopping mall in Bangkok on the 3rd (local time). Police said a 14-year-old boy opened fire at a shopping mall in Siam Paragon this afternoon, killing Chinese and Myanmar women and injuring five others. The arrested boy had been receiving psychiatric treatment and was reportedly not taking prescribed medication that day. According to the AFP news agency, the shooter stated during interrogation that he heard a voice saying, “Someone go and shoot people.”
Police chief Tosak Sukhvimol explained that he had been admitted to a hospital where he was receiving psychiatric treatment and was not taking medication. At the time of the investigation, the suspect was said to be very confused.
Video obtained from the scene showed the suspect being taken away wearing a black shirt, glasses and a hat designed in the shape of the American flag.
The principal of a nearby private school confirmed that the suspect was a student and said he would “cooperate with the authorities and investigators.” It is reported that the school’s tuition fee is about $4,000 (about 5.44 million won).
Pictures circulating on social media show police grabbing the suspect as he lay on the ground and handcuffing him, while unidentified footage shows mall visitors running outside after hearing gunshots. In addition, they were also spotted hiding inside a restaurant in the mall.
Prime Minister Theta Taweesin visited the scene of the shooting and comforted the wounded who were admitted to the hospital. He also spoke with the Chinese ambassador and expressed his condolences, he said on his Twitter account. “From now on, the Thai government will implement the best safety measures to ensure the safety of all tourists,” he added.
Thailand, which is rebuilding its tourism industry after the pandemic, is trying to attract more Chinese tourists, but the number of tourists has been lower than expected due to safety concerns.
Thailand allows you to own a gun with a permit, and has the highest percentage of gun ownership in Asia. Gun-related crimes are frequent, but mass shootings are rare.
The shooting occurred just days before the first anniversary of the daycare raid that killed a total of 36 people, including 24 children. At the time, the perpetrator was a former police officer armed with a gun and a knife. In 2020, a former army officer went on a rampage at a shopping mall, killing 29 people and injuring many others.
“The mall shooting will raise new questions about gun control in Thailand,” AFP commented.
KS CHOI
US ASIA JOURNAL
