An 18-year-old youth opened fire at a school in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province, Thailand, on Wednesday evening, injuring the principal and two students before taking teachers and pupils hostage.
According to local reports, the youth entered the school premises with a firearm and shot the principal in the head. Two students also sustained injuries in the incident. The principal and the injured students were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
The gunman then held several teachers and students hostage inside the campus, triggering panic. Police and security personnel quickly surrounded the school and initiated rescue operations as anxious parents gathered outside, leading to tense scenes.
After negotiations, the youth reportedly dropped his weapon and surrendered to the police. All hostages were rescued safely.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused had borrowed the firearm from a police officer. Initial reports indicate that he allegedly targeted the school in search of a teacher who had reprimanded his younger sister. Authorities are continuing their probe into the incident.
