Thailand: Several injured following hostage situation in Songkhla school; accused held by police

New Delhi: At least three people were injured during a hostage situation at a school in Thailand's Songkhla on Wednesday after a gunman entered the educational institution. Officials informed the media that an unknown number of students and teachers were held hostage by the accused, who was eventually detained by the police.

What was the incident?

A shooting incident occurred on Wednesday in Hat Yai town in southern Thailand. According to police, an 18-year-old man opened fire at the Prathan Khiriwat School around 4:45 p.m. According to reports, the school director and a student were seriously injured in the incident. The total number of injured has not yet been officially confirmed. The attacker has been taken into custody.

Has the accused been detained?

It has been reported that the attacker who opened fire at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday has been taken into custody, and all hostages have been safely freed. A police officer told Reuters. Local authorities reported on social media that an 18-year-old man entered the Patongprathankirriwat School in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, on Wednesday with a weapon. Deputy Superintendent Wichian Soboon told Reuters, "The attacker has been arrested."

According to another police officer, at least three people were injured in the incident. It should be noted that in 2022, a former police officer killed 36 people, including 22 children, in a gun and knife attack at a nursery in the eastern part of the country.