Three Injured in School Shooting in Thailand’s Hat Yai; 18-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

Hat Yai: At least three people were wounded in a school shooting at Patongprathankiriwat School in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla Province on Wednesday afternoon, police and local officials said, as authorities took an 18-year-old suspect into custody and ended a tense hostage situation.

The incident unfolded around 4.45 pm local time when a young man armed with a firearm entered the school grounds shortly after classes were finishing for the day. He opened fire inside the campus and briefly held teachers and students hostage before security forces intervened.

Thai police and tactical units surrounded the school and were able to subdue and arrest the suspect, bringing the situation under control without further loss of life. Authorities also confirmed that all hostages were safely freed.

Among those injured were a female teacher, who sustained critical injuries and underwent surgery, and a 14-year-old girl who was shot and is reported to be in stable condition after treatment. Another child was hurt from a fall while trying to escape.

Police identified the suspect as an 18-year-old local resident who entered the school in an “agitated state” carrying a firearm. Investigators have begun questioning him to determine a motive, and authorities have not yet released further details on why he targeted the school.

The shooting sent students and staff scrambling for safety, and harrowing video from outside the school showed people fleeing and seeking shelter as the drama unfolded.

While incidents of gun violence are comparatively rare in Thailand, the country has a recent history of high-profile shootings, including a 2022 attack in which a former police officer killed dozens at a daycare centre. This latest event has reignited debate on school security and gun ownership in the country.

Hospital authorities in Hat Yai said the injured were being treated and monitored, and local officials have bolstered security around schools in the province as investigations continue.

Police did not immediately disclose charges against the suspect, who remains in custody as investigators piece together the motive and circumstances behind the attack.