Fifteen others had been wounded, eight critically, within the assault within the province of Nong Bua Lamphu, a largely agricultural area that has one of many highest poverty charges in Thailand.

“I want to apologize to all of the households who misplaced their family members,” police chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat informed reporters earlier than touring to Nong Bua Lamphu to handle the case. “I’m going to fly to the positioning and personally command the operation.”

Mass shootings are uncommon in Thailand, although charges of gun possession — and gun homicides — are greater right here than in different components of Asia. Thailand, with a inhabitants of practically 70 million, has greater than 10 million privately owned weapons, of which 4 million are unlawful, based on a database run by the College of Sydney in Australia.

In 2020, a soldier within the Royal Thai Military went on a capturing rampage, killing 29 individuals and wounding dozens of others earlier than being shot useless himself.

Tan reported from Singapore.

This can be a breaking information story and can be up to date.