In a shocking incident, a 14-year-old suspected gunman has been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, following a deadly shooting at a luxury mall. The incident, which occurred at the Siam Paragon mall in the capital city, left two people dead and several others injured.
Initially, authorities had reported three fatalities, but the medical service of the country later revised the toll to two. National Police Chief Torsak Sukwimol confirmed that two women, one of Chinese nationality and the other from Myanmar, lost their lives in the tragic shooting. Additionally, five other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
The Metropolitan Police Detective Department shared on its Facebook page that the 14-year-old suspected gunman was arrested and is currently being questioned regarding his involvement in the mall shooting. An image circulated by emergency services showed a police officer apprehending and handcuffing an individual lying face down on the floor.
Earlier, the Central Investigation Bureau had posted a grainy image on its Facebook page, identifying the suspected gunman who was dressed in khaki cargo pants and a baseball cap.
Unverified videos circulating on social media depicted harrowing scenes as shoppers, including children, ran for safety, while security personnel guided them out of the mall. Some footage showed individuals taking cover inside a darkened room within a restaurant. Live television broadcasts captured long queues of traffic outside the mall amid torrential rain.
Thailand has unfortunately witnessed gun violence incidents in the past. In 2021, an ex-police officer carried out a devastating attack, killing 22 children in a nursery during a gun-and-knife rampage. In 2020, a soldier went on a shooting spree, resulting in the deaths of at least 29 people and the injury of 57 others in and around the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his deep concern over the incident and posted on social media, “I am aware of the shooting event at Siam Paragon and have ordered the police to investigate. I am most worried about public safety.”
The arrest of the teenage suspected gunman has raised questions about security measures in public spaces, especially in shopping malls, prompting authorities to reevaluate safety protocols and procedures to prevent such tragic events from recurring.
Sources By Agencies
