Three people were killed and four others –including aforeign national –were injured after a teenage gunman opened fire inside a busy shopping mall in the centre of the capital, Bangkok, BBC reported citing Thai officials.
Thai police has detained the shooter sporting a baseball cap and t-shirt, inside the Siam Paragon shopping mall, Thairath newspaper posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
14-year-old male gunman who killed 3 & injured 4 at posh Siam Paragon shopping mall in the heart of Bangkok was arrested while wearing a baseball cap featuring a US flag. #Thailand #WhatsHappeningInThailand #siamparagon #พารากอน pic.twitter.com/YavSQOa49k
— Pravit Rojanaphruk (@PravitR) October 3, 2023
The Metropolitan Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police announced the arrest on its official Facebook page, AFP reported.
The shooter was a 14-year old boy, Erawan Medical Service Center said. He was using a handgun, the police said.
The mall, owned by Siam Piwat Co., was evacuated after the shooting incident with the entry to the nearest skytrain station sealed, police officials said.
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“The attacker was arrested. In fact, he surrendered,” Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said, adding that “the situation had been brought under control and police were clearing the scene”. He also shared his “deepest condolences” with the victims and their families.
Video footage showing shoppers running out of the centre go viral on social media after the incident. The centre was quickly evacuated and had its doors closed.
the shopping mall “SIAM PARAGON” where firstkhao were supposed to hold an event today, was involved in a shooting. for this reason all the schedules in that area were cancelled/postponed. just watching this video gives me chills, i hope everyone is safe 🙏pic.twitter.com/AkgSVOVanO
— mar 🥢 fan account (@mixkanawat) October 3, 2023
People posted videos, apparently taken from inside the mall. In one, four loud noises which sound like gunshots can be clearly heard in the busy complex.
The shooting at the shopping mall came just days before Thailand will mark a year since one of the country’s bloodiest days in recent history when an former police officer armed with a knife and gun attacked a nursery, killing 12 adults and 24 children, according to CBS News report.
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