A Thai soldier launched a shooting rampage that killed at least 26 people – including a 13-year-old boy – and injured 57 others because he was angry about a “house deal”, the country’s leader has said.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters on Sunday the soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, was involved in a land dispute with a relative of his commanding officer.
“It was a personal conflict… over a house deal,” said Mr Chan-ocha at a press briefing in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, where the attack took place on Saturday.
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He added: “It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens.”
Hundred of shoppers were inside the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the city when Thomma drove a stolen Humvee into the building, armed with an assault weapon and ammunition stolen from the army base’s arsenal.
Thai soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, killed at least 20 people with over dozen more wounded in a shooting in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, health authorities said
EPA/Terminal 21 Shopping Mall
The suspected Thai soldier carrying a rifle in Terminal 21 shopping mall after he attacked his commander, stole guns and ammunition. He then fled to the mall and opened fire there
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Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase the shooter hidden in a shopping mall
Reuters
Shoppers flee active shooter at shopping centre
The Thai Royal Police’s Crime Suppression Department released a wanted poster stating he is wanted in connection to a deadly attack
Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty
Thailand security forces enter the shopping mall
Reuters
People being evacuated from the shopping mall by members of security forces
Thai Crime Suppression Bureau via Reuters
Thai soldiers stand outside the Terminal 21 shopping mall
AFP via Getty
People heading to an exit of the Terminal 21 Korat mall guarded by armed police
AP/Crime Suppression Division
People run away from the shopping mall
Songyost Suwanachim via REUTERS
Reuters
People run away from the shopping mall
Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters
A bullet hole in the window of a car
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
A bullet hole in the window of a car
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
Police and bystanders stand near the scene of a shooting at the Terminal 21 mall, in Korat
AP
A woman runs for shelter
Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters
Jakrapanth Thommaposted on Facebook during the attack
Facebook/AFP via Getty
A fire in the compound the shooting
Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty
Thai police arriving at the scene
MCOT Public Company Limited/AFP
Emergency vehicles drive through a street after the shooting rampage
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
Thai soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, killed at least 20 people with over dozen more wounded in a shooting in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, health authorities said
EPA/Terminal 21 Shopping Mall
The suspected Thai soldier carrying a rifle in Terminal 21 shopping mall after he attacked his commander, stole guns and ammunition. He then fled to the mall and opened fire there
Facebook/AFP via Getty
Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase the shooter hidden in a shopping mall
Reuters
Shoppers flee active shooter at shopping centre
The Thai Royal Police’s Crime Suppression Department released a wanted poster stating he is wanted in connection to a deadly attack
Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty
Thailand security forces enter the shopping mall
Reuters
People being evacuated from the shopping mall by members of security forces
Thai Crime Suppression Bureau via Reuters
Thai soldiers stand outside the Terminal 21 shopping mall
AFP via Getty
People heading to an exit of the Terminal 21 Korat mall guarded by armed police
AP/Crime Suppression Division
People run away from the shopping mall
Songyost Suwanachim via REUTERS
Reuters
People run away from the shopping mall
Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters
A bullet hole in the window of a car
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
A bullet hole in the window of a car
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
Police and bystanders stand near the scene of a shooting at the Terminal 21 mall, in Korat
AP
A woman runs for shelter
Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters
Jakrapanth Thommaposted on Facebook during the attack
Facebook/AFP via Getty
A fire in the compound the shooting
Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty
Thai police arriving at the scene
MCOT Public Company Limited/AFP
Emergency vehicles drive through a street after the shooting rampage
Teo Bao Hua via Reuters
One survivor, Suvanarat Jirattanasakul, 27, said: “It was frightening because I could hear the occasional gunshot… we waited a long time for the police to come and help us, many hours.”
The assailant was shot and killed by Thai security forces after an 18-hour standoff. Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Thomma, a sharpshooter, stole two rifles, an M60 machine gun and 770 rounds of ammunition from the arsenal, reported the Bangkok Post.
Thomma also reportedly killed his commanding officer and a guard to the weapons arsenal in order to steal the weapons.
During his rampage, Thomma posted updates on Facebook before the social media platform shut his account down.
He said: “Death is inevitable for everyone.”
Later, he added another post complaining about his fingers cramping and asked: “Should I give up?”
Facebook said in a statement: “There is no place on Facebook for people who commit this kind of atrocity, nor do we allow people to praise or support this attack.”
Forensic police have reportedly begun collecting evidence inside the shopping centre, which remains cordoned off while authorities conduct their investigation.
Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, has a population of about 250,000 people. It is one of the lesser-visited areas among Thailand’s nearly million annual tourists.
Additional reporting by agencies