https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... e-in-korat

17 killed as soldier opens fire in Korat
Three slain on army base before attacker drives stolen Humvee to mall and takes hostages

published : 8 Feb 2020 at 20:40 updated: 8 Feb 2020 at 21:14


An image from security video at Terminal 21 shows the attacker entering the shopping centre around 6pm Saturday.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: At least 17 people were reported killed and many more injured in a shooting spree by a soldier who later took hostages at a local shopping mall on Saturday evening.

There were “17 deaths, 14 wounded”, said an unnamed official from the Bangkok-based Erawan Center, the nationwide emergency services dispatch centre that collates hospital information.

The carnage began when the assailant stole some weapons and shot dead his commander and two others at the Surathampithak army camp before fleeing in a stolen Humvee. He fired at civilians along the route to the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Muang district.

Local media showed video of the soldier getting out of a vehicle in front of the mall around 6pm and firing a series of shots, sending people running. Gunshots could be heard on the video.

The attacker then fired at a cooking gas cylinder, setting off an explosion and fire. Video clips showed people running away and cowering behind cars as thunderous shots rang out.

There were unconfirmed reports that the man had hand grenades on his body.

Troops from a special warfare unit were dispatched to the mall, where the attacker was said to be holding 16 people hostage on the fourth floor.

Police Crime Suppression Division commandos were also on the scene. Police were taking the man’s mother from Chaiyaphum province to Korat in hopes that she could persuade him to surrender.

Around 8.30pm, it was reported that special forces troops were preparing to “engage” the shooter inside the shopping centre. The army asked media outlets to stop providing live coverage in order to avoid giving the suspect information about official activities.

The attacker streamed his earlier activity at the mall on Facebook Live and posted a selfie showing him holding a rifle. “Tired, I can barely move my fingers,” he said on a video posted at 7.20pm.

The Facebook page was taken offline a few moments later.

Other text messages posted before the page was taken down included “Should I surrender?” and “Oh shit, I’ve got cramps in my hand.” An earlier post said, “Nobody can avoid death”, and another one read, “Being rich from taking advantage of others, do they think they can use money in hell?”

Lt Gen Thanya Kriatisarn, commander of the Second Army Region, said police and soldiers were hunting the attacker, identified as Sgt Maj Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, of the Surathampithak camp.

The slain commander has been identified as Col Anantharot Krasae, with whom the gunman was reported to have had a conflict. A 63-year-old woman said to be Col Anantharot’s mother-in law was also killed at the camp, along with another soldier.

BBC says 20 killed as of 13 minutes ago.

Still not over, police and army afraid he may use his grenades.

sounds like it is time to consider banning motos and cars since they are responsible for far more carnage than this gun.
All those driving who don't have cocks must be stopped before the Water Festival in April.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:34 am

j57 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:36 pm sounds like it is time to consider banning motos and cars since they are responsible for far more carnage than this gun.
All those driving who don't have cocks must be stopped before the Water Festival in April.

WTF are you on about? Cars and motos are used to transport people. While they can be used as weapons that is not their primary use. Bullshit argument.

Gun nut logic.

Why is homicide rate higher in those states that have stricter gun control? Mass shootings are only a small part in all gun killings, just the most vocal. In this particular Thailand case the guns belonged to the shooter or to the army? If the army, why is gun control even discussed?

The murder rate in USA, where gun ownership is a God given right,
is 77 places higher up the list for intentional homicide deaths
than the next modern developed western country.
(the most valid comparison)

Quite shocking isn't it.
- and so f***ing stupid.
especially when we look at the outrageous, and steadily rising, number of kids murdered by gun nuts.

(NB, this is not an attack on USA, the thread is not about that.
just using this as a stark example of the gun nut culture - which certainly applies to this guy in Thailand.
- and to refute the arguments Hunter used to confuse the issue)