Thai soldier kills 26 in rampage, most inside shopping mall

Thai security forces evacuate people who were stranded inside the Terminal 21 shopping mall following a gun battle, to try to stop a soldier on a rampage after a mass shooting, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand 9 February – Reuters

Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (Reuters): A Thai soldier angry over a land deal went on a shooting spree that killed at least 26 people, most of them in a shopping mall in the northeast that he fled to in a stolen Humvee after shooting his commanding officer, officials said.

Thai security forces shot and killed the rogue soldier on Sunday morning after an overnight standoff at the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the northeastern Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima

The soldier was armed with an assault weapon and ammunition stolen from the army base’s arsenal, an official said.

He initially posted written messages on Facebook during the attack before his account was shut down by the company.

Hundreds of shoppers fled the mall in groups crouching low, and the police and army launched several rescues during the more than 12-hour standoff, with armed forces at one point emerging at a run carrying small children.

“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,” said Suvanarat Jirattanasakul, 27, her voice trembling after she emerged. Another shopper who escaped told local Amarin TV that the shooter was “aiming for the heads” and said his colleague died on the scene.

“I heard so many gunshots. He was shooting everywhere and his shots were very precise,” said the man, identified as “Diaw”.

“Personal conflict”

CCTV footage from inside the mall posted on social media showed the gunman dressed in black and wearing a mask, his gun slung over his shoulder with no sign of other people around.

Police named the shooter as 32-year-old soldier Jakrapanth Thomma. He reportedly worked at an army base close to Nakhon Ratchasima, which is about 250 km (155 miles) from the capital Bangkok. Thai media said the suspect was a sharp shooter and gun enthusiast who often posed with weapons on social media

The killings began at around 3 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Saturday when the soldier opened fire in a house before moving to an army camp and then to the mall.

“It was a personal conflict ... over a house deal,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters on Sunday from Nakhon Ratchasima after traveling there to meet with wounded survivors.