Thailand's deadliest rampage ever: At least 36 killed in attack that began at child care center

The latest news:Thais mourn the deaths of dozens of children by a fired officer who stormed a day care center

A disgraced former police officer in northeastern Thailand killed at least 36 people, most of them children, in a shooting and slashing rampage Thursday that started at a day care center and ended at his own home, where he killed his family and himself, authorities said. 

National Police Chief Gen. Dumrongsak Kittiprapas stated that the attacks started at around 12:30 p.m. local in Nongbua Lamphu Province, approximately 330 miles northeast from Bangkok. At least 19 boys, three girls and two adults were killed at the day care center in the rural town of Uthai Sawan before the suspected gunman, identified as former police officer Panya Kamrap, drove off shooting randomly at people on the street, police said.

Police said that the suspect drove home and murdered his wife and son, before committing suicide. According to Archayon Kraithong, a police spokesperson, the attack took place in one of Thailand's poorest areas.

Nanthicha Punum, acting chief of center's nursery, said to AFP that she saw the attacker enter the building in the rural area.

According to her, "There were some staff dining outside the nursery and the attacker drove up and shot four of them." "The shooter broke down the door with his leg, then entered and began slashing." 

The Thai government announced Friday that flags will be flown at half-staff by the Thai government.

In Washington, the White House released a statement saying the U.S. was "horrified" by the shooting and offering condolences to families who lost loved ones.

The statement stated that the images were "heartbreaking". "We condemn this act and are ready to help our long-standing ally Thailand with any assistance they may need."

MASS HOOTING IN THAILAND: Officials sayThai Army sergeant killed at least 26 people in a mall shooting,

Suspect had been fired from police force, faced drug charges

Deputy national police chief Gen. Torsak Sukwimol told the Bangkok Post that Panya, 34, was apparently under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. According to the Post, Panya was expelled by the police force in June after he was charged with possessing methamphetamine pills.

Torsak told the Post the mother of the gunman told him her son had gone to court for a hearing on his drug case Thursday morning. Torsak quoted his mother as saying that he was stressed out and had ingested drugs, making him feel paranoid.

Panya then went to the day care center, where he appeared to become agitated when he could not find his child. Torsak stated that he opened fire on staff members who were eating outside. Panya then went inside, where most of the children were sleeping. Many of them were killed with a knife, Torsak said.

Photos and videos from the scene show the horrors of an attack

Online photos and videos showed sleeping mats scattered across a preschool room with bloody walls and alphabet pictures.

As frantic relatives wept and watched from outside, videos were filled with the sound of wails. Ambulances stood watch as medical personnel and police entered the schoolyard.

Mass murders rare in Thailand

Mass shootings in Thailand are rare. In 2020 a soldier opened fire at a shopping mall and other locations in the southern Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 29 people and wounding 58.

Firearm-related deaths in Thailand are much lower than in countries like the United States and Brazil but higher than in countries like Japan and Singapore, which have strict gun control laws. In 2019, the rate of firearm-related death was 4 per 100,000, as compared to 11 per 100,000 in the U.S.A and almost 23 per 100,000 in Brazil.

Contributing: The Associated Press