In the wake of a devastating shooting incident that claimed the lives of two individuals at a prominent shopping center in Bangkok, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has announced a commitment to implement “preventive measures” to address concerns surrounding the nation’s gun control policies.
Less than 24 hours after the incident, the Siam Paragon mall reopened its doors, though shoppers returned cautiously, given that this marks the third high-profile gun attack in Thailand within the past four years.
This recent shooting, which occurred at one of Bangkok’s largest and most upscale malls, poses a significant challenge to the nation’s efforts to revive its critical tourism industry after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed condolences to the families of the victims, one of whom was Chinese and the other from Myanmar, during a minute of silence held at the mall. He stated, “I am confident Siam Paragon and government officials did their best to minimize the casualties and damage. Let this be the only time this happens. My government insists we will give priority to preventive measures,” without providing specific details.
A 14-year-old suspect, a student at a prestigious private school near Siam Paragon, has been taken into custody by the police. Investigators disclosed that the boy, who was undergoing treatment for mental illness and had not been adhering to his medication regimen, reported hearing voices instructing him to harm others.
Assistant National Police Chief Samran Nuanma revealed at a news conference that the weapon used in the attack was a blank-firing pistol, which had been illicitly modified for live shooting. He pledged, “We will increase regulations and laws to control the use of firearms.”
Despite previous assurances to tighten gun laws, Thailand has witnessed repeated tragedies. The Siam Paragon shooting incident occurred just days before the anniversary of a nursery massacre in northern Thailand that resulted in 36 fatalities. In 2020, a former army officer embarked on a rampage, gunning down 29 people at a mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Thailand currently grapples with approximately 10 million guns in circulation, equating to one firearm for every seven citizens, one of the highest ownership rates in the region. While some firearms are smuggled into the country, internet sales have emerged as a growing concern, with limited law enforcement capabilities to monitor the online gun market.
Thailand, reliant on tourism, is determined to rebuild its tourism sector following the decline in visitor numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China, a crucial market that sent around 10 million tourists annually before the pandemic, has been slow to return visitors. Concerns about safety in Thailand have deterred some Chinese tourists, a sentiment exacerbated by the involvement of a Chinese victim in the recent mall shooting.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has reassured the Chinese ambassador of implementing “the highest safety measures” for tourists. Security measures at Siam Paragon were visibly heightened, with bag searches observed at some entrances, though not all, within the sprawling mall.
