Mass shooting in Thailand: Six killed after gun attack at Bangkok market; gunman kills self

A gunman killed six security guards in a mass shooting at Bangkok ’s Or Tor Kor Market on Monday, according to police officials cited by Reuters.

The suspect later took his own life. “Police are investigating the motive. So far it's a mass shooting,” said Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bangkok’s Bang Sue district.

Authorities are working to confirm the shooter’s identity and any possible links to ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. The market, known for its fresh produce and close proximity to the popular Chatuchak weekend market, is a well-frequented destination in the Thai capital.

Deputy Commissioner Charin Gopatta confirmed to Reuters that six people, including the gunman, had died. The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre reported that five victims were killed — four security personnel and one woman. Mass shootings are not uncommon in Thailand, where gun control laws are loosely enforced and firearms are relatively accessible.

Located next to the sprawling Chatuchak weekend market, the area is popular with both Thai and foreign tourists and offers a wide range of goods. A video circulating online appears to show the gunman wearing a baseball cap, shorts, and a backpack, holding a handgun. Gun violence is not uncommon in Thailand. In October 2023, a teenager killed three people in a mass shooting at Bangkok’s Paragon shopping mall.