BANGKOK, Feb 10 (Bernama) — The death toll of Sunday’s shooting rampage in north-eastern Thailand rose to 30 including the gunman who was shot down by the forces, Thailand’s Public Health Officer said.
On Sunday a rouge soldier went on a shooting rampage killing 29 people and injuring 57 in Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat) in north-eastern Thailand.
Commander of Second Army Region Lt. Gen. Thanya Kriatisarn said the 32-year-old Jakrapanth Thomma was killed by security forces at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima where he had holed himself up for about 17 hours.
He also announced that the gunman had been shot dead Sunday morning at a press conference later on Sunday.
Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan o-cha said among those who were confirmed killed in the shooting rampage was a police officer.
He said this after visiting the injured at a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima, about 250 kilometres from Bangkok.
“This incident is unprecedented in Thailand. I want this to be the last,” he added.
Prayuth said the motive behind the attack was believed to be a grudge over a land deal in which the perpetrator felt he had been cheated.
The soldier attacked and killed his commanding officer and two others at the Surathampithak Army Camp before fleeing the scene on a Humvee along with an assault weapon Heckler & Koch HK33 and ammunition.
While driving from the army camp to Terminal 21 shopping complex, he opened fire randomly at civilians in several locations including at a Buddhist temple in the city.
The suspect who was wearing an army helmet live-streamed the attack on Facebook and even posted a selfie of him holding a rifle.
“Tired. I can barely move my fingers,” he wrote on the video posted at around 7.30 pm (local time). However, the video was removed later.
The incident had occurred when the mall was filled with shoppers. Hundreds of terrified shoppers and staff stranded in Terminal 21 shopping mall were evacuated as security forces took control of the ground floor of the mall before midnight.
–NNN-BERNAMA
