Iran Press/ Asia: At least 22 children were among 34 people killed in a mass shooting at a childcare center in northeastern Thailand on Thursday.
According to CNN, authorities immediately launched a manhunt for the suspected gunman, later identified by Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) as a 34-year-old former policeman involved in an ongoing court case for allegedly selling drugs.
Investigators later confirmed he had killed his wife and his stepson before taking his own life. It is unclear if the gunman and his family are included in the current death toll.
The suspect had appeared in court in Nong Bua Lamphu province hours before “opening fire while the kids were sleeping,” according to Maj. Gen. Jirapob Puridet of the CIB.
His two-year-old stepson was enrolled at the center he attacked Thursday but was not present while the attack was carried out, according to a local police chief.
“[The shooter] went to look for his two-year-old son, but the boy was not there … so he started shooting as well as stabbing people at the nursery,” police spokesperson Maj. General Paisan Luesomboon told CNN.
214
Read More:
14 children injured, one man killed after car driven to crowd in Berlin
Gunman kills 18 children at Texas elementary school
