Thailand massacre: Former policeman, Panya Khamrab attacks day care centre, shoots dead 36 people including 24 children

A former policeman, Panya Khamrab opened fire at a children's day care centre at Nong Bua Lamphu in northern Thailand, killing at least 36 people, including 24 children. Around 18 people have been injured too, as per reports.

After being fired from his job for using illegal drugs, the 34-year-old gunman committed the crime at the children's day care centre and later, shot himself, his wife and his child in Nong Bua Lamphu, about 333 miles from Bangkok, where a massive manhunt was in progress, media reports said.

Panya Khamrab's motive was unclear, but among the 36 fatalities were 24 children, some as young as two years old, a local police officer said on Thursday.

According to a district official, people first thought it were fireworks.

According to Paisan Luesomboon, a police spokesperson, the attacker was furious when he arrived at the daycare and saw that his child was not present. He then departed.

A teacher who'd been eight months pregnant was among the four or five employees the perpetrator initially shot, according to district official Jidapa Boonsom.

One day prior to the tragedy, a teacher, who was shot, uploaded a photo from his son's birthday party.

After shooting at the day care centre, the shooter continued to fire as he drove away. While eyewitnesses said, they also saw the shooter brandishing a knife.

According to Nong Bua Lamphu and Na Klang hospitals in the area, blood is urgently needed to treat injured victims.

FAQs

1. How many children have been killed in the incident?
Around 24 children, some as young as two years old, have been killed in the incident, the reports said.

2. Which hospitals needed blood urgently?
Nong Bua Lamphu and Na Klang hospitals said that they needed blood urgently.