Thai schools conducted active shooter drills on Wednesday (19 August), as authorities moved to strengthen security measures two weeks after a 14-year-old opened fire at a school and killed at least eight people.
Students at Surasamontree School in Bangkok took part in a “run, hide, fight” exercise, with a police officer acting as a mock attacker using a handgun and an assault rifle firing blanks.
Students practised fleeing from the attacker, hiding under tables and behind locked doors, and using furniture to block classroom entrances. In one scenario, students tackled and restrained the attacker after he entered a classroom.
The drills follow a directive signed on 10 August by Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong requiring schools to develop security plans and rehearse emergency response procedures.
“Every school is responding because this is a new-age threat that can happen anywhere,” said Visitsak Vipattanamongkol, Superintendent of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit at the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the police.
“Every school is on alert, adjusting their plans, and preparing so students can respond to incidents and threats of all forms,” he added.
The school has also increased daily security checks, including metal detector screenings and bag searches. Teachers demonstrated the use of handheld detectors and displayed sharp objects confiscated from students.
School Director Onitcha Kochana said the training could help students respond more effectively during a real emergency.
Mass shootings have become a recurring concern in Thailand in recent years, with incidents reported at schools and a major Bangkok shopping mall. A 2022 mass killing in northeastern Thailand left 36 people dead, including 22 children.
Thailand requires separate permits to own and carry firearms, but experts say the licensing system lacks mandatory mental health checks for applicants and regular reassessment of licence holders.
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