The attacker at a children’s daycare centre in Thailand was armed with a shotgun, pistol and knife. He opened fire at the centre killing at least 35 people, mostly children. He then turned a weapon on his family and then himself.

The attacker has been named as a former police officer, Panya Khamrab, who was dismissed last year for drug use.

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Khamrab (34) began his killing spree in Nong Bua Lam Phu province at roughly 12:30 on Thursday before fleeing the scene in a pick-up truck. The acting head of the nursery retold the scene as the attacker stormed the building, “there were some staff eating lunch outside the nursery and the attacker parked his car and shot four of them dead,” she said. “The shooter smashed down the door with his leg and then came inside and started slashing the children’s heads with a knife.”

Reports say that about 30 children were at the centre when the gunman entered. Of the at least 35 dead, 23 victims were children. Witness reports say that the gunman forced his way into a locked room where children were sleeping at the time. An 8-month pregnant woman was also of the victims. Following the attack, the gunman fled home and killed his wife and 4-year-old child.

The children at the daycare were mostly stabbed to death. Media reports say that the age range of the children was from 2 to 5 years old.

Guns laws are strict in Thailand

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT – Survivors of a gun and knife rampage that killed 34 people at a daycare center in Thailand recounted the shock and horror. It’s one of the world’s worst child death tolls in a massacre by a single killer in recent history https://t.co/bPMNeOuElb pic.twitter.com/7jaca0iqPv

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 7, 2022

Distraught parents were weeping in a shelter outside the nursery.

Gun laws in Thailand are strict. Possession of an illegal firearm can lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years. However, ownership is high compared to other countries in the region.

And whilst mass shootings in Thailand are rare, a harrowing case in 2020 saw a soldier kill at least 29 people and wounding 57 in a murderous rampage over a property deal.

The assailant was identified as a former police corporal who was fired last year after being arrested for possession of methamphetamine.

Here’s everything we know about Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting: https://t.co/2lUai3bfk1 pic.twitter.com/PREqGsakRn

— TIME (@TIME) October 6, 2022