Gunman Kills Five at Bangkok Market, Then Himself
Deadly Attack Rocks Popular Fresh Food Hub
A violent shooting rampage erupted at a bustling fresh food market in Bangkok on Monday, leaving five dead and two injured before the assailant took his own life. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Market Turmoil and Fatalities
The gunman began his assault by fatally shooting three security guards. He then proceeded to kill a fourth person with whom he reportedly had a personal dispute. In the ensuing chaos, two women sustained injuries.
Commander-in-chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, **Siam Bunsom**, stated that the shooter reloaded and entered the market, killing a female merchant and wounding another individual. The Erawan Medical Center confirmed the casualty figures and injuries.
One witness, Duangnapa Yeerunsiri, who was shopping with her boyfriend and sister, described the terrifying scene. “He fired many shots in rapid succession,” she recounted. “So we ducked down in the car and quickly called the police.” A video circulating online reportedly depicted the shooter, clad in a baseball cap and shorts, carrying a handgun.
Fortunately, no tourists were among the victims, according to police official Sanong Saengmani. The market, situated near the large Chatuchak Weekend Market, is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering a wide array of goods.
Investigation Underway
National police chief General **Kitrat Phanphet** has directed city police to expedite their investigation and collect all available evidence, including closed-circuit television footage, to understand the suspect’s background and motivations.
Thailand’s History of Gun Violence
While Thailand has relatively strict gun control laws, the country experiences a significant rate of gun ownership. This incident follows a series of tragic mass shootings.
In October 2023, a teenager killed three people and injured several others at the Paragon shopping mall using a modified blank pistol. Another devastating event occurred in October 2022 in Nong Bua Lamphua, where a former police sergeant murdered 36 people, including 24 young children, at a daycare center.
More recently, in February 2020, a disgruntled soldier killed 29 people, primarily at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, before being neutralized by police after an extensive standoff.
Recent data from the Small Arms Survey indicates that firearm-related deaths in Thailand remain a significant concern, with an estimated 3.99 deaths per 100,000 population attributed to firearms annually.
