Symbolic imageThai police detail gunman's preparations as school toll rises to nine
A 12-year-old girl wounded in Friday's school shooting near Bangkok died on Saturday, raising the death toll to nine including the attacker and his grandparents.
Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said on Sunday, 9 August, that the 14-year-old had fired at least 26 rounds from his grandfather's gun and was carrying 34 more rounds and a knife. Officers have questioned 17 witnesses, including the boy's parents. According to their accounts, the teenager had been interested in learning to use firearms for one to two years, watched violent content online and had an air gun confiscated by a teacher last year.
Five staff killed before the gunman shot himself
The boy shot his grandparents at their home at dawn on Friday, 7 August, then travelled to his school and opened fire shortly before 10am, killing three teachers and two school officials, before shooting himself. Fourteen people were still in hospital on Saturday evening, seven in critical condition, the health ministry said.
Gun-law pledges renewed
Prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed new gun legislation, saying only government officials on duty would be allowed to carry firearms, without giving specifics. Thailand has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia.
Other opinions
Koha, citing AP, still put Saturday's toll at eight, while Reuters and Folha reported nine; wounded counts range from 23 (Reuters) to more than 30 (Guardian, Le Monde).