An armed ex-policeman attacked a kindergarten in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing one almost 40 people, at least 20 of them children -some barely two years old-, according to unofficial preliminary figures, to later murder his family and commit suicide.
The Secretary General of the United Nations expressed sadness and consternation for the horrific mass shooting in Nong Bua Lamphu province, a mainly agricultural region with one of the highest poverty rates in Thailand.
In a statement, António Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
So far, information indicates that ten people were injured, six of them seriously.
Firearms and bladed weapons
According to press releases, the 34-year-old assailant was carrying firearms and knives and entered the nursery at lunchtime, shooting down four or five officials and then going to the rooms where the children were.
After committing the massacre, the attacker fled the scene of the crime and killed his family before committing suicide, realizing the police deployment to catch him.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) lamented the tragic event and condemned all forms of violence against children.
Schools should be safe havens
“No child should be the target or witness of violence anywhere and at any time,” the agency stressed.
He also stressed that nurseries, schools and all learning spaces “must be safe havens for for young children to learn, play and grow during his most critical years.
UNICEF called on the public and the media to refrain from posting or forwarding images and videos related to the incident because they can negatively affect the children and families of the victims.
attack on education
The agency’s executive director, Catherine Russell, called the attack a “nonsense” and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
For its part, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stated that the attacks on schools, students and educators “are attacks on the right to education”.
