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• A 14-year-old student opened fire at a school in Nonthaburi province, killing at least five people and wounding over 20.
• The shooter also killed his two grandparents at home before attending school as normal.
• Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, with around 15.1 guns per 100 people.
• All classes will be suspended between August 10 and 14 while staff work from home.

The student appeared to have shot his grandparents before attending school as normal.

A 14-year-old student opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok, killing at least five people and wounding over 20. The shooter also killed his two grandparents at the family home earlier that morning before attending school as normal. He took his own life at the school after firing more than 20 shots from a small, compact gun that was legally registered to his grandfather. Witnesses described hearing multiple continuous shots after an initial single gunshot, with students fleeing in fear and police eventually clearing a path for them to leave the building. The school has an enrollment of around 3,000 students, ranging from 12 to 18 years old, and all classes will be suspended between August 10 and 14 while staff work from home.

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, with around 15.1 guns per 100 people, according to a 2017 study by Small Arms Survey and GunPolicy.org. This is significantly higher than neighboring Malaysia, which has less than one gun per 100 people. The country's firearm-related death rate is also relatively high, at 3.49 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, although this still lags behind parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. The incident has raised questions about the ease of access to firearms in Thailand and whether stricter gun laws could help prevent such tragedies in the future.

The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School has significant implications for international students or expats living in Thailand, particularly with regards to gun ownership and security protocols at schools. The incident highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between authorities, schools, and families to prevent such incidents from occurring. It also underscores the importance of addressing the root causes of violence, including stress and mental health issues, which may have contributed to the shooter's actions.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential implications of this incident on international students or expats in Thailand, particularly regarding gun ownership and security protocols at schools.

Source: Original reporting via AP News