At least six people, including four security guards and the suspected gunman, were killed in a mass shooting on Monday at Or Tor Kor Market near Bangkok’s well-known Chatuchak weekend market.
According to police, the attacker opened fire at the market and later died by suicide. One additional person sustained injuries during the incident.
Deputy Police Chief of Bang Sue district, Worapat Sukthai, told AFP that the gunman specifically targeted the market's security personnel before turning the weapon on himself. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
“We are exploring all possible angles, including whether the incident has any connection to the ongoing border tensions with Cambodia,” Sukthai added.
Authorities are working to identify the assailant, whose actions have prompted heightened security in the area, which is a bustling fresh produce market. The site has been cordoned off as officers collect CCTV footage and witness testimonies to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Charin Gopatta, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed that all five victims were market security staff.
Also, Sanong Saengmani, a senior officer from Bang Sue, clarified that no foreign tourists were among the casualties.
Tourism plays a vital role in Thailand’s economy, Southeast Asia’s second-largest, which has been grappling with slow growth.
Surveillance footage released by police showed the suspect walking through a parking lot wearing a white hat and a backpack strapped to his chest.
Gun-related violence is not uncommon in Thailand, where firearm possession is widespread and regulation is often loosely enforced. The country has witnessed multiple high-profile shootings in recent years.
In October 2023, a 14-year-old gunman killed two people and injured five at a luxury shopping mall in central Bangkok. In another tragic incident a year earlier, a former police officer massacred 36 people, including 22 children, at a nursery in the country’s northeast.
(With inputs from agencies)
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