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A gunman has killed at least 37 people in a shooting and stabbing rampage that started at a childcare centre in north-east Thailand.
WARNING: Readers may find details in this story distressing.
The attack in Uthai Sawan, a town about 500 kilometres north-east of Bangkok in the province of Nongbua Lamphu, is believed to be one of the world's deadliest child massacres by a single killer in recent history.
At least 24 children died in the attack — some as young as two years old — and about 12 people are injured, according to local media.
Police say the suspect was among the dead.
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old former police officer Panya Kamrap.
National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas said the gunman was suspended from the police force in January and sacked in June for drug use.
He was facing trial on a drugs charge.
Police said he had been in court earlier on the day of the attack and had then gone to the childcare centre to collect his child.
Local officials said the man opened fire at the childcare centre at about 12:30pm local time.
A teacher told public broadcaster Thai PBS she saw the shooter get out of his car and immediately shoot someone eating lunch outside, then fired more shots.
Nanthicha Punchum, acting chief of the nursery, described in detail the attacker smashing down a door at the childcare centre using his leg and then attacking the children with a knife.
Another witness told Thailand's Kom Chad Luek television that staff at the daycare centre had locked the door, but the suspect shot his way in.
"I didn't think he would kill children, but he shot at the door and shot right through it," they said.
About 30 children were at the centre when the gunman came in, district official Jidapa Boonsom said.
The man first shot four or five staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant, she said, adding that at first people thought the noise was coming from fireworks.
Police said 19 boys, three girls and two adults were killed in the building before the gunman fled.
They said a few children survived, without giving details.
He fled while continuing to shoot at people, went home and killed his wife and remaining child then turned the gun on himself.
www.abc.net.au
WARNING: Readers may find details in this story distressing.
The attack in Uthai Sawan, a town about 500 kilometres north-east of Bangkok in the province of Nongbua Lamphu, is believed to be one of the world's deadliest child massacres by a single killer in recent history.
At least 24 children died in the attack — some as young as two years old — and about 12 people are injured, according to local media.
Police say the suspect was among the dead.
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old former police officer Panya Kamrap.
National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas said the gunman was suspended from the police force in January and sacked in June for drug use.
He was facing trial on a drugs charge.
Police said he had been in court earlier on the day of the attack and had then gone to the childcare centre to collect his child.
Local officials said the man opened fire at the childcare centre at about 12:30pm local time.
A teacher told public broadcaster Thai PBS she saw the shooter get out of his car and immediately shoot someone eating lunch outside, then fired more shots.
Nanthicha Punchum, acting chief of the nursery, described in detail the attacker smashing down a door at the childcare centre using his leg and then attacking the children with a knife.
Another witness told Thailand's Kom Chad Luek television that staff at the daycare centre had locked the door, but the suspect shot his way in.
"I didn't think he would kill children, but he shot at the door and shot right through it," they said.
About 30 children were at the centre when the gunman came in, district official Jidapa Boonsom said.
The man first shot four or five staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant, she said, adding that at first people thought the noise was coming from fireworks.
Police said 19 boys, three girls and two adults were killed in the building before the gunman fled.
They said a few children survived, without giving details.
He fled while continuing to shoot at people, went home and killed his wife and remaining child then turned the gun on himself.
What we know about the deadly rampage at a Thai daycare centre that killed 37
Thailand officials are searching for answers after a man killed dozens of children at a childcare centre in a rural town in the country's north-east. Here's how the massacre unfolded.
www.abc.net.au
