Southern Thailand witnessed a heart-pounding school siege on Wednesday, where a gun-wielding man held hostages until special forces intervened heroically. The confrontation at Songkhla’s Patong Pratharn Khiriwat School in Hat Yai was resolved after police’s persistent maneuvers.
Social media buzzed with initial reports from provincial admins and the Mae Tap Tim Yala Foundation, detailing the attack as classes concluded. The intruder burst in, shots rang out, and he promptly held teachers and pupils at gunpoint, with many more students cowering indoors.
Immediate action followed: Police dispatched special forces to surround the site, rescue units to evacuate innocents, and negotiators armed with community leaders to parley with the attacker. An injured teacher was promptly medically evacuated.
Citizens were cautioned against approaching the school or surrounding zones, with emphasis on official sources amid swirling rumors. The multi-agency response—featuring Hat Yai station personnel, elite tactical teams, and rescue crews—methodically neutralized the threat.
Hours of high-stakes operations culminated in the gunman’s capture, ensuring everyone’s safe release. This close call has ignited debates on bolstering safeguards in Thai schools, with officials vowing thorough inquiries into the assailant’s psyche and planning.