2022 Nong Bua Lamphu massacre

On 6 October 2022, at around 11:24 ICT (UTC+7), the assailant, Panya Khamrab, drove a white pickup truck out of his residence. He arrived at the nursery at 12:50, where the attack began shortly after lunch. Khamrab fatally shot a father and son at the Uthai Sawan Sub-district Administrative Organization, near the nursery. Among them was a teacher who was eight months pregnant. Several staff members fled the scene. Panya then entered a room where children were asleep and attacked them with the knife. There were 30 children in the nursery at the time of the attack. The bodies of nineteen boys and three girls were discovered in the nursery, while the bodies of a child and an adult were found at a nearby government building. Panya fled the scene in the pickup truck. While passing through the Nong Kung Si district, he shot and killed seven people. Panya arrived at his home, where he used petrol to set the pickup truck on fire. Among them were Panya's wife and stepson, whom he shot before killing himself. where they were placed in coffins and moved to Udon Thani Hospital. Some family members were at the nursery in the evening, and mental health counsellors comforted them. == Victims ==

A total of 36 people were killed, including 24 children. The ages of the victims ranged between 3 and 69 years. Doctors at Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital said that there was an urgent need for blood, and a blood donation drive was held there. == Perpetrator ==

The perpetrator was identified by police as 34-year-old Panya Khamrab () (4 June 19886 October 2022). Panya was a resident of Nong Bua Lamphu province and a former police sergeant in Na Wang district. His mother said that he graduated with a bachelor's degree in law at Ramkhamhaeng University. According to his mother, he may have taken to drugs after returning to Nong Bua Lamphu. Panya had been a drug addict since high school; in January 2022, he had been arrested for possessing methamphetamine. or June 2022 as a result of his addiction. Earlier on the day of the attack, Panya attended a court hearing regarding his drug offences. He was scheduled to appear for another hearing the next day. He was separated from his wife. Colleagues recalled Panya experiencing mood swings and said that he was not well-liked. He had allegedly threatened a bank manager with a pistol after being found sleeping instead of carrying out guard duties at the bank. He also argued with his wife over a suspected affair, and with a neighbour after holding disruptive house parties. Panya had legally purchased the 9mm SIG Sauer P365 semi-automatic pistol used in the attack. == Aftermath ==

Police lieutenant general Kitti Praphat arrived in Nong Bua Lamphu province to initiate a manhunt for Panya. Police advised people living in the area of the attack to be cautious as Khamrab's whereabouts were unknown. Thailand's prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered relevant agencies to help the wounded and open an investigation into the event. The Hanuman Crime Suppression Division and Arintaraj 26 units were present at the scene after the attack. Prayut visited Nong Bua Lamphu on 7 October to visit survivors and victims' families. Daycare centres in the area were closed, while all government institutions were instructed to fly their flags at half-mast. == Reactions ==

Prayut expressed his condolences and described the incident as "shocking". He said, "I feel deep sadness toward the victims and their relatives." UNICEF condemned the attack, adding, "Early childhood development centres, schools and all learning spaces must be safe havens for young children to learn, play and grow during their most critical years." The organisation also urged the media and the public to avoid sharing images of the incident. The Bangkok governor and foreign ministry, as well as British prime minister Liz Truss and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, expressed their condolences. The U.S. State Department issued a press statement condemning the attack and said the United States is ready to provide assistance. King Vajiralongkorn has taken the victims under royal patronage, meaning the king would cover the funeral expenses of those killed and the medical expenses of those wounded. He also visited the hospital where the injured received treatment and met with the victims' families. == See also ==