A TEACHER at a school in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province said a fellow teacher sought out by the gunman who stormed in yesterday (Feb. 11) did not punish his younger sister as claimed while the principal who was shot has succumbed to her wounds, Amarin TV said today.
The hostage-taking crisis started at 4.45 p.m. when the unidentified 18-year-old man armed with a handgun took students and teachers hostage while demanding to see his younger sister’s class teacher, identified only as Chay, who allegedly punished her.
By 6.38 p.m. the authorities successfully apprehended the perpetrator after an intensive operation, bringing the situation under control and safely rescuing teachers and students.
However the principal, Mrs. Sasipatchara Sinsamorn, later died from her gunshot wounds while two students got injured, one in the arm and the other after jumping from the second floor.
A teacher who was at the scene of the hostage-taking crisis today clarified in an online post that it is not true her colleague Chay, who the gunman wanted to meet, punished his sister as she is a very kind person.
In fact his younger sister has been frequently absent from school and he had already had an argument with his sister and father at home and in a fit of rage stormed into the school to talk to Chay about her schoolwork.
“I think that is the general reason,” she wrote.
CAPTION:
Scenes from yesterday’s hostage-taking crisis, above, and the school principal Mrs. Sasipatchara Sinsamorn who died, inserted. Photos – AMarinTV
Earlier reports:
Update: 3 injured in school hostage-taking crisis, no fatalities
Gunman holding students, teachers hostage surrenders
