A gunman was arrested after opening fire at a local government office near Bangkok on Monday, days after a deadly school shooting renewed debate over gun control in Thailand.
The suspect, described as a former lawmaker, reportedly opened fire at a senior provincial official. Two people were injured and taken to hospital.
The incident came days after a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School left nine people dead, including the suspected 14-year-old gunman, and wounded more than 20 others.
Following the school shooting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated his intention to strengthen gun controls. Authorities also installed metal detectors and increased security at the school.
Thailand’s Education Ministry has announced plans to develop new school safety protocols over the next three months following the shooting.
The measures are expected to include mental health screenings, emergency response drills, efforts to address bullying and improved detection of weapons and other prohibited items.
The government has also ordered tougher enforcement against people carrying firearms in public places. Police are expected to establish checkpoints and strengthen controls over the possession, carrying and use of firearms.
“No one has the right to carry a firearm, especially in a public place,” Anutin told reporters.
Thailand has one of the highest levels of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. A 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey put the number of firearms in civilian possession at around 10.3 million, equivalent to approximately 15 guns per 100 residents.
Thailand’s current firearm licensing system does not require mental health screening for people applying to possess a gun. It also allows people aged 20 and over to own firearms and does not require periodic reassessments of licence holders.
The government’s latest measures come as authorities face renewed pressure to strengthen firearm regulations following a series of violent incidents.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases...
Eurasian leaders have gathered in Bishkek for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit focused on security, economic ties and regional...
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said....
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. government and Israel-aligned actors of manipulating energy markets to promote the war with Iran.
Russian strikes on the Kyiv region overnight killed 37 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian capital was under "virtually nonstop attack" from drones.
Eurasian leaders have gathered in Bishkek for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit focused on security, economic ties and regional co-operation, as the bloc marks its 25th anniversary. China's Xi Jinping also hailed the “unprecedented” development in China-Kyrgyzstan relations.
The death toll from last week's catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet rose to 750 on Sunday, with 3,044 people still missing, as fresh rainfall pushed up river levels and forced rescuers to move to higher ground.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Qusra, saying security operations should be handled only by state institutions, including the army and police.
Rescue teams in Nepal, supported by Chinese and Indian experts, worked through the night to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels following last week’s catastrophic Himalayan flood.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 31st of August, covering the latest developments.
Around 20 people are reported missing after flooding struck parts of Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S. state of Arizona, prompting evacuations of people to safety and a large-scale response from park authorities.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment