Weeping, grief-stricken families gathered yesterday outside a Thai nursery where an ex-policeman murdered two dozen children in one of the kingdom’s worst mass killings.
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha were yesterday to visit survivors of the attack that left at least 37 people dead, including the attacker’s wife and child.
Around the small low-slung building, where only two days ago scores of preschool children played, officials in white uniforms laid a large floral wreath on behalf of the king.
Photo: AFP
A line of heartbroken parents placed white roses on the steps of the nursery as the baking sun bore down on them.
Buarai Tanontong’s two three-year-old grandsons were among those killed at the nursery when the attacker burst through the door.
“I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t think that it would be my two grandsons,” she said, clutching her inconsolable daughter’s shoulder.
Armed with a 9mm pistol and a knife, sacked police sergeant Panya Khamrab opened fire on the childcare center in the northeastern Nong Bua Lamphu Province at about 12:30pm on Thursday.
Following the attack, 34-year-old Panya fled the scene in a pickup truck, heading home to murder his wife and son before taking his own life, police said, ending the killing spree around 3:00pm.
He killed 24 children — 21 boys and three girls — and 13 adults. The dead include pregnant teacher Supaporn Pramongmuk, whose husband posted a poignant tribute on Facebook.
“I would like to thank all the support for me and my family. My wife has fulfilled her every duty as a teacher,” husband Seksan Srirach wrote. “Please be a teacher in heaven, and my child please take care of your mother in heaven.”
Flags on government buildings flew at half-mast yesterday to mark one of the deadliest days in recent Thai history.
A red carpet was installed around the nursery by officials before the royal wreath was laid. Social media users expressed criticism about the laying of a ceremonial carpet at a crime scene.
Acting head of the nursery Nanthicha Punchum described harrowing scenes as the attacker barged into the building.
“There were some staff eating lunch outside the nursery and the attacker parked his car and shot four of them dead,” she said.
She said the attacker smashed down the door with his leg and then started stabbing the children.
Thai media reported that one child survived because they were sleeping hidden by a blanket when the attacker struck.
Thai National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapat told reporters that the attacker was suspended from the police force in January and dismissed in June for drug use.
He said Panya — who used a legally purchased pistol — had been due in court on a drugs charge, adding he was in a manic state, but it was unknown whether it was drug-related.
Prayuth has ordered a rapid probe into the attack, and yesterday police interviewed witnesses and families.
The attack came less than three years after a soldier gunned down 29 people in a 17-hour rampage and wounded scores more before he was shot dead by police.
Although Thailand has high rates of gun ownership, mass shootings such as Thursday’s are rare.
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