A horrifying incident occurred in the heart of Bangkok as a teenage gunman opened fire inside the bustling Siam Paragon shopping mall, resulting in three fatalities and injuries to four others, including a foreign national, according to Thai officials as reported by the BBC.
The shooter, identified as a 14-year-old boy, was detained by Thai police. He was described as wearing a baseball cap and a t-shirt at the time of his arrest, a development shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by Thairath newspaper. The Metropolitan Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police officially announced the arrest on its Facebook page, as reported by AFP.
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The tragic incident unfolded as the young gunman used a handgun to carry out the attack within the shopping mall, owned by Siam Piwat Co. Shoppers inside the mall quickly fled in panic, and the authorities evacuated the premises. Access to the nearest skytrain station was sealed off, as stated by police officials.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, shared that the situation had been brought under control and that the shooter had been arrested, revealing that the teenage assailant had voluntarily surrendered. He expressed his “deepest condolences” to the victims and their grieving families.
Video footage of the chaotic scene circulated on social media, capturing shoppers fleeing the shopping center in distress. The mall’s doors were swiftly closed, and the area was evacuated as the authorities responded to the emergency.
In one particularly harrowing video, recorded from inside the mall, four distinct loud noises resembling gunshots can be heard amidst the bustling complex.
The shocking incident at the shopping mall unfolded just days ahead of Thailand marking a somber anniversary. The nation is approaching one year since one of its bloodiest days in recent history when a former police officer, armed with a knife and a gun, attacked a nursery. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 12 adults and 24 children, as reported by CBS News.
The recent shooting serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced in addressing acts of violence and underscores the need for continued efforts to ensure public safety and security in urban areas.
