Thailand Tightens School Security Following Nonthaburi Shooting

Thailand’s Cabinet has approved an Education Ministry proposal to make school safety a national priority following a deadly shooting at a secondary school outside Bangkok last week that left nine people dead. Deputy government spokesperson Patdarasam Thongsalueakorn said the initiative aims to strengthen the protection of students, teachers and education personnel across the country while improving prevention and emergency response measures at educational institutions. Under the ministry’s announcement, effective immediately, all schools have been designated as “school safety zones”. Schools will be required to establish centres to protect rights, freedoms and security on their premises, prepare and conduct emergency response drills, and coordinate with police and other relevant agencies. The new approach also focuses on preventing risks before incidents occur. Schools will be expected to strengthen searches and screening for weapons, illegal items and other dangerous objects before entry. Mental health support systems covering the physical and psychological well-being of students, teachers and staff will also form part of the security framework. The Education Ministry is working with psychologists from Chulalongkorn University and crisis teams from the Department of Mental Health to support people affected by the incident. “Safe rooms” are also being prepared to assist with psychological recovery. For the longer term, the ministry is preparing framework legislation on school safety. Authorities will also monitor the mental health of those affected and conduct screening for post-traumatic stress disorder at one, three and six months after the incident. Details of the Nonthaburi Shooting On August 7, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that eight deaths, including the gunman and his grandparents, had been confirmed, while more than 30 people were injured, nine of them seriously. The shooting had taken place at a school and a home in Nonthaburi province the previous day. Police were alerted at around 10 a.m. local time after a gunman opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Krai district of Nonthaburi province, in the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok. A witness said the gunman was wearing a purple tracksuit and fired dozens of shots inside the school. Video footage released by the media captured repeated gunfire across the campus. The alleged attacker was identified in reports as a 14-year-old student who lived with his grandparents. Thai police found the bodies of his grandparents at their home, and investigators believe they were shot before the attack at the school. Authorities recovered a pistol at the scene. Initial information indicated that the weapon belonged to the alleged shooter’s grandfather. A large quantity of ammunition was also reportedly found in the suspect’s bag. According to Thai media reports, police investigating the shooting found that the alleged shooter had searched for and studied an American school shooting case on his computer. Anutin told the media that excessive academic pressure could have been a possible factor behind the attack, saying the alleged student shooter’s grandparents had been very strict about his studies. A friend of the gunman also said that he had recently been under considerable pressure and had prepared extensively before the shooting. The friend said the teenager had also posted photographs of the gun used in the incident on social media. Anutin said such an incident must not happen again. He stated that the government would promote stricter gun-control measures and that relevant agencies should strengthen monitoring of firearm ownership. He also said that people are not permitted to carry guns in public places unless they are performing official government duties.