Grief and shock over Thailand assault on ‘tiny angels’ at preschool By Reuters

By Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Social media in Thailand was awash with grief and anger on Friday over the killing of 34 folks, together with 23 youngsters, by the hands of a former policeman who rampaged by way of a preschool daycare centre earlier than killing his personal spouse and little one.

An opposition politician mentioned the police and authorities needed to mirror on the case to make sure there was no repeat of Thursday’s killings on the northeast Thailand daycare centre, the place tiny coffins have been taken away from the scene.

“It is so heart-breaking. They have been small youngsters, they didn’t deserve this. A few of them have been nonetheless of their afternoon naps,” mentioned 29-year-old Bangkok resident Chamita Itthiponwitoon.

The 34-year-old attacker went on a rampage with a pistol and a big knife on the centre within the province of Nong Bua Lamphu – the worst mass killing by a single attacker within the nation’s latest historical past.

“Humanity, not tiny angels, died,” wrote one Twitter person, recognized as @psmyheart, who posted underneath a Thai hashtag that interprets as #MassShootingNongBuaLamphu.

Greater than 4.7 million folks despatched posts with the hashtag by Friday afternoon, many with messages resembling “RIP Youngsters of Heaven” and “I hope you might be reborn as angels in heaven”.

On the Fb (NASDAQ:) web page of the Mutahi Sawant Little one Growth Centre the place the assault passed off, a whole lot of individuals posted condolences underneath the centre’s final publish earlier than the bloodbath, an account of a go to the kids made to a Buddhist temple in September.

‘PEOPLE AT RISK’

Many of the little one victims have been aged between two and 5, many killed with a machete-like blade farmers use to chop sugarcane, police mentioned.

Authorities recognized the attacker as a former policemen discharged from the power final yr after being caught with methamphetamines. He was on trial on a drug cost.

He went dwelling after the daycare centre slaughter and shot his spouse and son earlier than turning the gun on himself.

Amid the grief, questions are being raised about weapons, medication, psychological well being and the accountability of the safety forces.

Thursday’s assault comes two years after a mass capturing by an ex-soldier at a shopping center and military base in Nakhon Ratchasima province, generally generally known as Korat, during which 29 folks have been killed.

“The mass shootings in Korat and Nong Bua Lumpu mirror some issues within the military and police, together with psychological well being and issues with command,” opposition politician, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, mentioned in a publish on Twitter shared 125,000 instances.

“If the issues should not solved, it will imply that the lives of individuals are in danger from the individuals who have these weapons of their palms.”

Twitter person @jaoohja touched a nerve with a publish shared greater than 14,500 instances that included {a photograph} of some graffiti with the message: “Who do you name when the police homicide?”

(Further Reporting by Artorn Pookasook in Bangkok; Writing by Kate Lamb; Modifying by Robert Birsel)