THAILAND: At least 34 people were killed in a gun and knife attack at a children’s center in northeast Thailand on Thursday, 6 October, local police said.

The massacre occurred in Na Klang district Nong Bua Lamphu Province, with local media saying 22 young children and their parents were among the victims.

Jidapa Boonsom told Reuters that the man first shot four or five staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant.

"At first people thought it was fireworks," she added.

Thai media have identified him as a former police officer who was recently released from service due to drug-related reasons. In recent update, he killed his wife and child before shooting himself dead.

The rate of gun ownership in Thailand is high compared with some other countries in the region but official figures do not include huge numbers of illegal weapons, many of which have been brought in across porous borders over the years from strife-torn neighbors.

Mass shootings are rare but in 2020, a soldier angry over a property deal gone sour killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations.

^{SOURCE: RT}