Thai PM pledges tougher gun laws after school shooting leaves eight dead

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to introduce stricter gun control measures following a shooting that killed eight people on the outskirts of Bangkok.

A 14-year-old boy first shot dead his grandparents at their shared home in Nonthaburi, using a firearm legally registered and licensed to his grandfather. He then carried the gun and dozens of bullets to Debsirin School, where he was a student, attending two classes before opening fire.

Five teachers were killed, including the deputy director and the director's secretary, who had gone to check on the disturbance. The teenager then took his own life. Local media later reported that a student had also died from injuries sustained in the attack, bringing the total death toll to eight, with more than 20 others wounded.

Police said the attacker's shots were notably accurate, striking vital areas of the body, and the prime minister described the assault as well prepared with clear objectives. Investigators reportedly found videos related to US school shootings on the teenager's devices. Family members described him as quiet and well behaved, though relatives noted he spent much of his time indoors playing violent video games and had shown no obvious signs of planning an attack.

Anutin said he intends to restrict the carrying of firearms in public, limiting the practice to on-duty government officials. Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in South East Asia, with roughly 10.3 million firearms in circulation, of which about four million are believed to be held illegally. Existing laws impose up to ten years in prison for illegal possession, but enforcement has remained a persistent challenge.