BANGKOK, Aug 7 — Thailand’s latest shooting has renewed questions over gun violence in a country that has suffered a string of deadly attacks in recent years.
The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School north of Bangkok, where a student shooter killed eight people, including teachers, students and earlier, his own grandparents, is the latest in a series of mass shootings that is rattling the South-east Asian country.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in the region, despite laws restricting firearm possession.
Here are some of the country’s deadliest shootings in recent years, based on reports filed by BBC, Reuters and other local media.
August 2026: Debsirin Nonthaburi School shooting
A 14-year-old student allegedly killed his grandparents before going to his school, where police said five teachers and three students were killed.
Fifteen others have been injured, including two who are in critical condition.
Authorities have not established a motive, while questions remain over whether victims were targeted or randomly attacked.
February 2026: Hat Yai school shooting
A female teacher was killed when a gunman opened fire at a school in Hat Yai, southern Thailand.
The attack raised fresh concerns over safety in educational institutions.
July 2025: Bangkok market shooting
A gunman killed five people, including security guards and a vendor, at a market in Bangkok before taking his own life.
October 2023: Siam Paragon shopping centre shooting
A 14-year-old boy opened fire at Bangkok’s luxury Siam Paragon shopping centre, killing two people and injuring five others.
Police said the teenager used a modified pistol designed to fire blanks that had likely been bought online.
October 2022: Nong Bua Lamphu nursery massacre
A former police officer carried out one of Thailand’s deadliest mass killings, killing 37 people, including 22 children at a daycare centre in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu.
The attacker later killed his wife, child and himself.
February 2020: Nakhon Ratchasima mall massacre
A soldier killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 others in an attack across several locations in and around Nakhon Ratchasima.
The gunman, armed with an assault rifle and ammunition taken from his military base, was later killed by security forces.
The repeated attacks have kept pressure on Thai authorities to address illegal firearms and tighten gun controls.
Following the latest school shooting, Thai Opposition Leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut called for a review of the country’s gun laws.
“Although the motive behind the attack remains unclear at this time, an act of violence in an educational institution, which should be one of the safest places in our society, serves as a stark reminder for Thai society to seriously and systematically review gun control measures,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also expressed condolences following the attack, saying: “This is really bad, it shouldn’t have happened.”
Date: 7 August, 2026 6:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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