The director of Phatong Prathankhiriwat School in Hat Yai, Thailand, has died following a school shooting and hostage situation that began Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed Thursday morning. The director sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.
The unrest began around 4:30 PM local time when a 18-year-vintage male opened fire at the school, initially wounding the director, according to local authorities. The suspect then held more than 300 students hostage for several hours before being subdued by special operations forces.
Prior to the school attack, police responded to a reported domestic disturbance involving the same individual near the school. During the initial police response, the suspect allegedly seized an M4 rifle from responding officers and fled to the school grounds. A security guard at the school was approached by the suspect, who attempted to fire the weapon, but the gun malfunctioned, allowing the guard to escape. The suspect then forced students to lead him to the director’s office, where he fired two shots, injuring the director.
During the hostage situation, an estimated 300 students were confined to a classroom building, while others were unable to depart the school grounds. Hat Yai police, special intervention teams, and rescue services established a security perimeter, evacuated nearby residents, and attempted to negotiate with the suspect. Witnesses and police reported the suspect occasionally fired shots and used a loudspeaker to warn authorities not to enter.
Around 6:30 PM, authorities launched a tactical operation, resulting in the suspect being shot and apprehended. Authorities stated the situation was under control and all students were safely evacuated. At least three people were injured during the incident, including two children and the school director. One girl was treated for gunshot wounds, and another child sustained an injury to their ankle after jumping from a window in panic, according to authorities.
The motive for the attack remains unknown. Local media reports indicate the suspect initially robbed a police officer of their firearm in Hat Yai before proceeding to the school. Thailand has a significant number of firearms in circulation, with estimates exceeding ten million weapons in a country of over seventy million people. A previous mass shooting occurred in 2022 when a former police officer carried out an attack on a childcare center in northern Thailand, resulting in the deaths of 24 children and 12 adults.
