A 15-year-old student was detained after allegedly firing eight shots in a school in Kamphaeng Phet province, prompting teachers and students to flee or take shelter as classes were changing.
Police and rescue volunteers brought the situation on Wednesday under control before taking the suspect into custody. No injuries were reported.
Information released by the school said the suspect fired eight shots into the air, while separate reports from the scene described bullet damage to a teacher’s car and a glass door.
Officers found spent cartridge cases near a security booth at the entrance and additional spent and unfired ammunition near a physical education building.
A school security guard said the suspect entered through the front gate carrying a 9mm handgun and fired a shot that narrowly missed him before continuing farther into the grounds.
The suspect had not attended classes since Aug 21 because he had been placed on leave while receiving treatment for depression. A medical follow-up had been scheduled for Sept 4.
The school had already become aware of a potential threat on Aug 19, when it learnt the suspect had sent messages to a friend saying he would come to the school on Aug 20 to cause an incident.
School officials called the suspect and his parents in for discussions.
At that meeting, the suspect denied intending to carry out an attack and said the messages had been part of a conversation while playing a game.
The incident on Wednesday occurred nearly two weeks later.
The authorities are investigating the circumstances and motive behind the shooting.
The suspect will be questioned with a multi-disciplinary team present, in line with procedures involving a minor.
The school will suspend on-site teaching for two days following the incident and move classes online during that period. — The Nation/ANN
