Thailand kindergarten shooting: Gunman kills teacher at early learning centre in eastern Thailand
The assailant fatally shot the kindergarten teacher inside the school building on Wednesday.
A gunman shot and killed a kindergarten teacher Wednesday inside a school building in eastern Thailand, where 44 children and three other teachers were evacuated safely, authorities said.
The shooting took place around 11am inside a building at the Nongplalai Municipal Kindergarten in Chonburi province, about 150 kilometres southeast of the capital Bangkok.
All 44 students were unharmed and evacuated along with the other teachers after the shooting, according to the Chonburi provincial government.
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Channel News Asia reported that the gunman is a local police officer.
CNA reported that via AFP that Sayan Klomaon, chairman of Nong Pla Lai sub-district council said the assailant arrived at the school at 10.30am and briefly talked to his wife before shooting her.
He added that no students witnessed the shooting because it took place outside the classroom.
Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwong ordered the school to be closed and mental health experts to be available to support the students and school staff, his office said.
School safety and gun violence in Thailand have come under scrutiny after a 14-year-old student opened fire at his high school and family home in August, killing eight people and injuring more than 20 before apparently taking his own life.
Earlier this month, a 14-year-old student was arrested after he fired several shots but failed to injure anyone at his school in Kamphaeng Phet province, 200km north of Bangkok.
Calls for tighter controls on firearms have intensified and the national government has ordered a review of gun regulations, including suspension of new permits to purchase firearms and a review of existing permits.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia despite fairly restrictive gun laws. While mass shootings are still rare, Thailand has seen an uptick in high-profile attacks in recent years.
