Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Thai School Reopens Under Tight Security After Deadly Shooting
A school in Thailand reopened after a very serious shooting.
A 14-year-old student killed seven people, including himself.
One victim was a student, and five were school staff.
Police and civil defence volunteers guarded the school when classes resumed.
Students had their bags checked before entering.
The school displayed the names and pictures of those who died.
Mental health experts have been helping school staff and students.
Some parents felt safer because of the new security, while others worried about how children would feel returning.
The government also paused new firearm permits and said existing permits would be checked.
Debsirin Nonthaburi School reopened three weeks after a student killed seven people, including himself.
Police, civil defence volunteers and bag checks were deployed as students returned to class.
The victims’ names and images were displayed, while white ribbons marked their memory.
Parents expressed both confidence in stronger security and concern about students’ mental health.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suspended new firearm permits and ordered existing licences reviewed after the shooting.
- Who
- A 14-year-old student carried out the shooting; seven people, including the student, died, and the school community returned to class.
- What
- Debsirin Nonthaburi School reopened under heightened security after a deadly shooting rampage.
- When
- The shooting occurred on August 7, and the school reopened three weeks later on Tuesday, September 1.
- Where
- Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand.
- Why
- The school resumed classes while adding security measures and mental health support after the shooting.
Supportive of reopening
Concerned about returning
Safety and student wellbeing
Supportive of reopening
Some parents and students supported returning because of the school’s stricter safety measures, access to mental health support and the benefits of in-person classes.
Concerned about returning
Other parents worried about students’ mental state and how they would feel returning to the building where the shooting occurred.
- School
- Debsirin Nonthaburi School
- Location
- Bang Kruai, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand
- Victims
- Seven people died, including the gunman; one was a student and five were staff members
- Security measures
- Police deployment, civil defence volunteers and student bag checks
- Memorials
- Names and images of the dead were displayed, with white ribbons tied to the fence
- Firearm policy
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suspended new firearm permits and ordered existing licences reviewed
- Civilian firearms
- Thailand had an estimated 10.3 million civilian firearms according to a 2017 Small Arms Survey estimate