Shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall kills 3

On October 3, 2023, a gunman opened fire inside a sizable mall in the heart of Thailand’s capital, killing three people before being caught, according to the authorities.

Less than an hour after the first reported gunfire at the Siam Paragon Mall, long regarded as one of Bangkok’s largest and most upmarket shopping destinations, police announced a suspect had been captured.

Reporters were informed that the situation was under control inside the mall, which features a theater, an aquarium, and the five-star Siam Kempinski hotel in addition to selling high-end clothing and luxury vehicles.

According to Yutthana Sretthanan, head of Bangkok’s Emergency Medical Center, three people were murdered and six were hurt.

The event occurred just before Thais were preparing to commemorate the anniversary of a gruesome gun and knife massacre that took place at a rural daycare center in a northern region on October 6, 2022, killing 36 people, the majority of whom were toddlers.

According to an Associated Press reporter who was on the site, Tuesday’s gunshot forced officials to close access to the nearby Siam elevated train stop, preventing commuters from leaving the transport station as the evening rush hour started and heavy rain pounded the city.

As sirens blared outside, first responders could be seen entering the mall. Witnesses reported that large numbers of people exited the structure, one of many retail centers in the area that are well-liked by both visitors and wealthy Thais.

Liu Shiying, a tourist from China, told the AP that she witnessed people fleeing after hearing gunfire. She reported hearing gunshots, an alarm going off, and the mall’s lights going out.

“We’re hiding right now. Who is willing to leave? Later, she was able to depart, saying as she took cover, “In numerous videos posted to social media, a person with a handgun was seen leaving the building while wearing a baseball cap, black shirt, and camouflage pants.

A later-posted video purported to show the shooter handing himself in to police. Although major shootings are unusual in Thailand, gun violence is widespread there. In the year 2020, a disgruntled soldier attacked a mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast, killing 29 people while fending off security personnel for around 16 hours until being killed by them.