PUBLISHED : 15 Nov 2023 at 05:00
Police investigating the shooting of a student and teacher in Bangkok’s Klong Toey believe the two suspected gunmen have fled the capital.
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Thiti Saengsawang yesterday told the media that investigators have been questioning anyone linked with the incident near Sacred Heart Convent School, where two gunmen opened fire at a group of university students on Saturday.
A male student was shot and rushed to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, while a teacher, who was later identified as Sirada Sinprasert, was killed by a stray bullet at a nearby bank ATM.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thammasuthee, commander of the MPB’s Investigation Division, said he had received information that the two men, riding motorbikes whose licence plates had been reported stolen, changed clothes and left the capital in the aftermath of the incident.
“They also had the motorbikes painted a new colour,” he said.
Police are investigating whether the suspected gunmen were former or current students of the same educational institution.
Pol Col Wittawat Chinkham, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 5, has reportedly discovered which institution they attend, but police have no plans, as yet, to mount a search of the premises.
Meanwhile, Monthon Paksuwan, secretary-general of the Office of Private Education Commission (Opec), said Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob had instructed Opec and relevant agencies to disburse 507,000 baht in compensation to the female teacher’s family.
Following yesterday’s cabinet meeting, a government spokesman said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had instructed Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to ramp up gun control efforts and prevent civilians from possessing firearms in a bid to avoid any negative impact on the tourism sector caused by gun violence.