Gunman who killed 20 and took hostages at Thai shopping mall identified as junior army officer – police

Gunman who killed 20 and took hostages at Thai shopping mall identified as junior army officer – police

Thai police have identified a shooter who killed at least 20 people and is reportedly still holding hostages at a shopping mall in Thailand as junior army officer Jakraphanth Thomma.

Police told BBC Thai that Thomma killed his commanding officer before stealing weapons from a military base and going on the shooting rampage.

Police also posted a wanted poster for Thomma on their social media pages.

ขณะนี้คนร้ายยังอยู่ในพื้นที่ห้าง Terminal 21 โคราช ยังคงก่อเหตุกราดยิงและเกิดเพลิงไหม้ภายในห้าง ขอให้ประชาชนในระแวกใกล้เคียงระมัดระวัง
ขณะนี้เจ้าหน้าที่ทุกภาคส่วน รวมถึง “กองปราบ” กำลังปฏิบัติหน้าที่อย่างเต็มกำลัง pic.twitter.com/UHpWZPnNEi

— กองปราบปราม (@CSDThailand) February 8, 2020

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In a post on Twitter, police also warned people stuck inside the mall to hide in a safe place and to mute their mobile phones.

Earlier, footage apparently from mall security cameras showed a man brandishing an assault rifle and walking calmly through an empty area of the building.

Videos posted on social media showed panicked people running from the mall, while others showed men carrying injured people to safety.

Gunshots heard as man drives away from the mall where gunman who killed at least 17 is holed up#koratshooting #กราดยิงโคราช

DETAILS: https://t.co/1oJn0qCWVi pic.twitter.com/G72dOQxvEe

— RT (@RT_com) February 8, 2020

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Thomma reportedly took selfies as he began his attack and live-streamed the rampage on his Facebook page, but the page was quickly shut down.

Thai special forces are reportedly preparing to storm the building.

Also on rt.com

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Gunman who killed 20 and took hostages at Thai shopping mall identified as junior army officer – police