BANGKOK (AP) — A former policeman burst into a day care center in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing dozens of children & teachers & then firing on more people as he fled in the deadliest rampage in the nation’s history.
The assailant, who authorities said was fired from the force earlier this year because of a drug offense, took his own life after killing his own wife & child at home.
A witness said staff at the day care locked the door when they saw the assailant approaching with a gun, but he shot his way in. In footage posted online after the attack, frantic family members could be heard weeping outside the day care & 1 image showed the floor of 1 room smeared with blood & sleeping mats scattered about. Pictures of the alphabet & other colorful decorations adorned the walls.
At least 37 people were killed in the attack, according to police spokesman Archayon Kraithong. Another 12 people were wounded. At least 24 of the dead were children, mostly preschoolers.
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old former police officer Panya Kamrap. Police Maj. Gen. Paisal Luesomboon told PPTV in an interview that he was fired from the force earlier this year because of drug-related offenses.
In the attack he used multiple weapons, including a handgun, a shotgun & a knife.
Local police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapha told reporters that the suspect was a sergeant on the force before he was fired & that the main weapon he used was a 9mm pistol that he had purchased himself.
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